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SCOTT'S 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO; 



FROM THE 



RENDEZVOUS ON THE ISLIND OF LOBOS 



TAKING OF THE CITY, 



INCLUDING AN ACCOUNT OF THE 



SIEGE OF PUEBLA, 



WrXH SKETCHES OF THE COUNTRY, AND MANNERS AND CUSTOMS 
OF THE INHABITANTS. 



By H. judge MOORE, 

OF THE rAI.METTO nEOIMENT. 



CHARLESTON: 

J. B. NIXON, PUBLISHER, 48 BROAD-STREET. 

1849. 



>- r i'^ 



C-^i 



Entered accorJing to an Act of Congress, iu the vear 184">, 

By H. JUDGE MOORE, 

In the Clerk's office of the District of South Carolina. 



f PREFACE. 

When, "ill the- course of humuii events." it becomes neces- 
sary for a nation to send forth her armies, eitlicr to battle for 
her liberties upon her own borders and diive from her shores 
♦he ruthless invaders of her rights, or to fight for the honor o» 
her flag upon a foreign soil, the movements, and victories, and 
reverses which may attend the march of those armies, are 
looked upon with the most vital and abiding interest by all 
classes and departments of that nation which sent them forth 
to the field, and whose honor as a people, or existence as an 
independent nation, may depend upon the issue. And then, 
when the storm of battle is past, and the gory wheels of the 
Juggernaut of war stands still, and the wails that go up from 
the field of mortal combat, shall be changed into the songs of 
rejoicing and the pagans of returning peace, it is naturally ex- 
pected by that nation, and by the world, that some one familiar 
with the stirring events, some actor in the thrilling drama, who 
moved among the batlliag legions, and looked out upon the 
sliock whci'c contending armies met, and valor fought and bled, 
should take up the pen ot the historian, and for Ihc pleasure 
and information of mankind, chronicle, with a free and impar- 
tial hand, and an unbiassed head, the most prominent features 
of the war, and the circumstances which led to the happy and 
successful termination of the conflict. 

Professing some knov.ledge of the facts and iiicidcnt.s \\hich 
I have here related, and feeling confident that the wliolo truth 
has not yet been told, I have, with some care and research, 
thrown together the following pages, hoping to be able to invest 
the "thrice told talc" with something new, and record some- 
thing that may have a tendency to instruct and amuse the gen- 
eral reader. In the prosecution of the present work, 1 have 
had to labor under many disadvantages, which may have tended 
to lessen, in some degree, the interest with which I had hoped 



PREFACE. 



to invest its pa^cs. In the first place, the time which I allowed 
myself for its completion was so limited as to compel me to 
write more hurriedly than I could have wished, and laboring at 
the same time under the debility and enervation occasioned by 
protracted disease, brought on by exposure and fatigue in a 
sickly and ungenial climate. Accuracy of detail, and a strict 
regard for historical truth, have, in every instance, been the 
main and prominent objects which I have had constantly in 
view. How far that desideratum has been accomplished must be 
left to the decision of an impartial public opinion, at whose bar 
I am willing that the literary and historical merits of my labors 
shall stand or fall. I feel the more easy and confident as to the 
result of my labors, as I have no extended reputation as a 
writer to stake or sustain upon the issue of success or failure, 
this being my debut before the public — my first intrusion into 
the ranks of historical writers. 

Knowing that a general and abiding interest is felt, more 
especially by the people of this country, in the history of the 
■war which has recently terminated the difficulties between the 
sister Republics of Mexico and the United States, and having 
seen no work written in the South, giving a detailed account of 
the operations of Scott's Campaign, from the surrender of Vera 
Cruz to the reduction of the city of Mexico, I have been in- 
duced to make an attempt at supplying the public with that desi- 
deratum in the form of the present work. And having been an 
humble actor in many of the scenes which are here described, 
the result of my own immediate observations has generally been 
given, and where that has failed, I have depended for facts upon 
the most reliable resources within my reach, such as official 
papers and authentic documents. Having been so unfortunate 
as to lose my notes, which I had written with some care and 
attention during intervals of camp duty, I acknoM'ledge my in- 
debtedness to W. M. Goodlett, Esq., of the Palmetto Regiment, 
who was kind enough to allow me the use of his notes, which 
I tbund to be of great advantage to me, not only in reference to 
dates and places, but in some important historical facts; and as 
historical truth, in preference to speculative originality, has 



PREFACE. r 

been my chief aim, I have not scrupled to use every facility 
within my reach to accomplish that desired end. 

In reference to the movements of our army in the Valley of 
Mexico, and the bloody and decisive battles before the city, I 
was very much assisted by the examination of official reports, 
which I found to be very full and complete, and which can gen- 
erally be credited Avith more implicit reliance than most other 
sources of information, carrying with them, as they do, the high 
seal of official veracity. In glancing at the history of the peo- 
ple and country of Mexico. I acknowledge my indebtedness for 
many interesting and important historical facts to the able and 
graphic works of Thompson, Robinson, Kendall, Mayer, Hum- 
boldt, Prescott, Poinsett, and others, which I had the privilege 
of consulting, and from which I derived infinite advantage, 
while sketching the fallowing pages. In the work now pre- 
sented to the public, inaccuracies may occur, otherwise it would 
be an anomaly in historical writing. Different persons ever 
have, and ever will, hold different opinions and give different 
versions of a transaction or train of events, even where both 
are alike spectators ; but wherever it was reliable, or founded 
on personal observation, I have invariably given my own opin- 
ion in preference to that of any one else, then the public can 
compare and choose for themselves. 

In many particulars I have had to depend on memory, and 
where I have been compelled to transcend the bounds of my 
own observation, I have had recourse to the most reliable and 
authentic sources of int'ormation within my reach. I have 
carefully endeavored to avoid the display of any partisan feel- 
ing, or sectional prejudice, the manifest tendency of which would 
be to bias the mind, contract the feelings, trammel the liberal 
sentiments of the patriot and philanthropist, and pervert the 
truth of history. I have indulged in no vague speculations upon 
the cause or origin of the war, whether it was just or unjust, or 
to what person or party the commencement of liostilities, and 
the unffjrtunate rupture between the two Republics, might be 
attributed. My business, as a faithful and impartial chronicler 
of events, has been to give the facts and circumstances, incident 



'^l PaEFA.CE. 

upon a state of the war as it existed, together with some of th« 
most prominent and leading features which distinguished th« 
prosecution of that interesting and eventful campaign. I have 
endeavored to give all parties, all arms of the service, from 
whatever part of the Union they might have come, their just 
and equitable "place in the picture," without being influenced 
by party prejudices or local considerations; and though being 
myself a member of a Southern Regiment, yet I have endea- 
vored, to the best of my ability, to render unto every regiment 
in the service its due meed of praise. 

Party distinctions and sectional jealousies may divide us at 
home, and array, in the bitterness of political animosities, one 
portion of the Union against another, but when fighting a com- 
mon enemy, in one great common cause, where the interests of 
the whole country are involved, v>-e are all united ; party feelings 
are forgotten, or merged in more important considerations, and 
all arc bound for the time in the tiipple cords of one great and 
common brotherhood. Those of different feelings and senti- 
ments at ho^e, and who would have become warm and even 
bitter in denouncing their opponents while discussing the pro- 
priety of a question of State policy, buried their political ani- 
mosities and party bickerings upon the battle field, and strug- 
gled side by side up the rugged steeps of Chapultepec, and 
fought iii mingling columns before the bloody gates of the Belen 
and San Cosmo. 

The war with Mexico has solved the proljlem of the efficiency 
of the citizen soldiery of America, cither upon a defensive or 
an offensive field — on the genial soil of her own sunny land, 
and amid the poisonous malaria of a foreign clime — at home 
or abroad, on the land or the sea, wherever her flag has been 
unfurled, and the tocsin call to arms has been sounded, there she 
has rallied her own Spartan band, and the strong arms and 
stout hearts of her citizen soldiers have never failed to carry it 
on to victory. 

The world has just witnessed, in wild amaze and mute aston- 
ishment a feat of arms which stands without a parallel in the 
annals of war, in which the young Republic of America, with 



PREFACE. Til 

a mere handful of raw recruit?, carried her victorious staiidar<^ 
from the mighty frontier to the populous heart of a powerful 
and warlike nation ; and in the flice of more than four time* 
her numbers of bloody and exasperated foes, successfully de- 
fended the honor of her flag upon the threshold of a foreign 
capital. 

Grehnville, S. C, Aug. 27, 1849. 



CONTENTS 



CHAPTER I. 

General rendezvous of Gen. Scott's army at tlie Island of Lobes — 
Description of the Island — Wreck of the Ondiaka — the Fleet 
leaves Lobos, and oasts anchor at Point Lizardo — Landing at 
Vera Cruz — Erection of batteries about the city — Skirmishes 
on the licights. - - - -...-.- 1 

CHAPTER IL 

Opening of the American batteries on the Castle and City of Vera 
Cruz — a proximate view of the enemy's lines of batteries — 
Worth's batteries near the cemetery — Captain Vinton lulled — 
Fearful effect of the American Batteries upon the City — Gen- 
eral Landero proposes to suspend hostilities, in order to consi- 
der the terms t>f a surrendei-. - - - 10 

CHAPTER III. 
Col. Harney's Dragoon fight at the Bridge of Madellen — the Mex- 
ican lance — Mexican cavalry — Skirmishing between Twiggs' 
brigade and the Lancers — Surrender of the City of Vera Cruz 
— Hoisting the American flag upon the Castle and forts about 
the City. - 16 

CHAPTER IV. 

Correspondence between Gen. Scott and Gen.'s Landero and Morc- 
les — Articles of capitulation — Correspondence between Gen. 
Scott and tlie foreign Consuls at Vera Cruz — Despatcli to the. 
Secretary of War. 24 

CHAPTER V. 

The Northers — their effects upon our shipping — Critical notice of a 
work entitled " Adventures in Mexico and the Roclcy Moun- 
tains," by George F. Ruxton. ------ ,37 

CHAPTER VL 

Quitman's brigade marches for Alvarado — De.?cription of the route 
— Great suffering of the men — Scarcity of water — Excessive 
heat of the weather — a myragc — Arrival at Alvarado — Kind- 
ness of the women — The " Baker Girl of Alvarado" — Kendall's 
opisiion of the Mexican ladies — Lieutenant Hunter — Court- 
martialled and suspended for tiring upon the town of Alvara- 
do— Twiggs at Plan del Rio— Battle of Cerro Gordo, - - - 44 

CHAPTER VH. 

The Mexican army is routed and flies towards Jalapa — The pur- 
suit of the American army — Gen. Scott enters the city of Ja- 
lapa without opposition — The situation of Jalapa — Its liouses. 



X CONTENTS. 

duirclies iuid inluibitants — Tlie ladies of Jalapa — tlicir beauty 
and traits of character — The American camp three miles be- 
yond Jalapa — Wortli puslies on to Perotc — Tates possession 
of the castle — " The Black Pass" — Its military defences — the 
farms and fiice of the country — Slaves in Mexico — Las Vegas 
— Perote ; the City and Castle — The beautiful Indian Girl of 
Perote. - - 64 

CHAPTER VIll. 

Tlie markets of Perote — Whirlwinds — The Maguey, or American 
Aloes — Pulque — Leave Perote — Our camp at San Antonio — ■ 
Exliausting march over the prairie — Scarcity of "water — Arri- 
val at Tepeyahualco — The Alcalde — Camp at Ojo de Agua — 
The water — Camp at El Pinal — Mexican farms — Mexican 
horses — the Lassoe — Stage coaches — The littera — Skirmish 
between Worth and Santa Anna — Camp at Amozaquc — Arri- 
val at Pucbla. - 82 

CHAPTER IX. 

Skt-tch of the city of Pucbla — The Cathedral — Solemnity of the 
ceremonies of the Catholic church — The cemetery — The mar- 
ket — Articles of food — Clxile-soup — Tortillas — Frijoles — Pan- 
damicc — Mexican politeness — Different Mexican and Spanish 
coins — The stores — Lady clerks — Indian market girls — Dress 
of the Ladies. ------ - - 9.t 

CHAPTER X. . 

The ruins and j^yi'amid of Cholula — Dreadful massacre of the Cho- 
lulans by Cortez and his army — The country and city of Tlas- 
cala — Critical position of tlie American army at Puebla — 
Extraordinary vigilance on the part of General Worth — A 
^ woman murdered by her husband — The lower classes of Puebla 
— Their lodgings — Their meals — Diarrhoea ; its fatal effects — 
Beggars—The Tlieat re— The Circus. 113 

CHAPTER XL 

Stay of the American Army at Puebla — Its departure for the city 
of Mexico — Great excitement in the city on the approach of 
General Scott — Fortifications at Pinal — Om- army marches to- 
wards San Augustin — Worth reconnoitres the works of San 
Antonio — Captain Thornton killed — Battle of Contreras — Va- 
lencia's forces routed — Worth storms the works of San Antonio. 1 24 

CHAPTER XIL 

Battle of Churubusco — Overwhelming superiority of the Mexican 
forces — y'cie clnpont — Church, or Fortified Cotivent — Desperate 
efforts of Riley's dcscrtcrs^Charge of Shields' brigade — 
Great slaughter of his troops — Death of C(>lonel Butler — The 
American army halted at tlie gates of the city — The armistice 
— Its articles violated by General Santa Anna — Hostilities re- 
commenced bv General Scott. 139 



CHAPTER XIII. 

Battlu ot Molinodcl Hoy — Worth's force in the tight — Ovenvhelm- 
ing superiority of the Mexican forces — their advantage of 
position — Fearful effects of Iluger's-guns — Heroism of Major 
Wright and his storming party — Tlie complete rout of the 
Mexican forces — Great loss of Worth's command — Stubborn 
defence of the Mexican works — Casa Mata blown up — De- 
struction of tlie cannon foundry — Wortli draws off his forces 
and retires to Tacubaya, in obedience to orders from the com- 
mander-in-chief. - 155 

CHArTER XIV. 

Storming the Castle of Chapultepec — Position of Pillow's division — 
Position of Quitman's division — Twiggs threatens the enemy 
at the south gate of the city — The storming parties — The 
assault by the American forces — Gen. Pillow wounded — Major 
Twiggs killed — Worth sends Clark's brigade to reinforce Pil- 
low's division — The mines — Scaling the works, and rout of the 
enemy — The American tlag hoisted on the walls of the Castle. 165 

CHAPTER XV. 

The Mexican army is pursued towards the gates of the city — 
Worth takes the rout of the San Cosme gate — Quitman goes 
towards the Garita de Belcii — The aqueducts — The causeway 
Worth fights his way into the suburbs of the city — Advances 
a howitzer battery — Bivouacks for the night near the San 
Cosme custom house — (iuitman presses the gates of the Belen 
— Enters the walls of the city — The city authorities propose a 
surrender — Quitman first readies the main plaza — Hoists the 
stars and stripes uj)on the National Palace — Extract from Gen. 
Quitman's report. 116 

CHAPTER XVI. 

Numerical forces of Gen. Scott's army in tlie valley of Mexico — 
Numerical strength of the Mexicans — Numbers of American 
troops engaged in each battle — Number of men with which 
Gen. Scott entered the city of Mexico — Loss of the enemy — 
Scattered fragments of the Mexican army — General Quitman 
appointed Governor of Mexico — Recapitulation — Patriotism of 
the Mexican ladies — Uu]iaralleled exertions to save the city — 
The priests — The "Polka Guards" — Women serving at the 
giiiT-. — Extract of an article v.-ritten by a Mexican — Colonel 
Dommguez's spy company — The meaning of the word patriot- 
ism in Mexico. ..-•.... 189 

CHAPTER XVII. 

Santa Anna — Public opinion concerning liis patriotism, courage and 
energy of character — He passes the blockade at Vera Cruz — 
Condition in which he finds his country — His efforts to raise aa 
army and hifuse a spirit of resistance into his countrymen — 
Organi^fes an army of 20,000 men at San LuLs — Meets and 



xii CONTENTS. 

fights General Taylor at Bueii:i Yhia — Marclies to meet Scott 
at Cerro Gordo — The part Avhich he bore in tlie revolutkm 
which secured to Mexico her mdependence — His personal 
appearance. 200 

CHAPTER X^'IIl. 

The forces left by General Scott to garrison Puebla — The liospital— 
The passeo — Times look squally — Forces concentrated at or 
near the Cuartel — Attack on the wagon yard, and the Guer- 
rilla tight — Siege of Puebla — its duration — its consequences — 
Fort Loretto — Fort Gaudaloupe — Sickness of tlie garrison — 
Great mortality from typhoid fever — Hospitality and kindness 
shown by the Mexican ladies to the American soldiers — The 
beautiful maiket girl — Arrival of Santa Anna before the city — 
Demands the surrender of the garrison — Is refused by Colonel 
Qhilds — Battle of Huamantla — Death of Captain WaUcer — 
Arrival of Gen. Lane at Puebla, and relief of the garrison. 212 

Report of Colonel Childs of the Siege of Puebla. 229 



SCOTT'S 

CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 



CHAPTER I. 

On Wednesday evening, the 3d day of February, 1847, the 
ship Ellerslie, Captain York, seven days out from Mobile, cast 
anchor near the Island ot Lobos. The next morning, the de- 
barkation of the troops commenced; and on reaching the Island 
it was found that the Louisiana regiment, under Colonel Marks, 
and the first Pennsylvania regiment, under Colonel Wynkoop, 
had landed a few days before, and had pitched their tents, and 
were then engaged in clearing away the chaparral, which was 
very dense, for the purpose of making room for a convenient 
parade ground. There were now six vessels in the harbor, 
and three regiments encamped on the island, and vessels were 
arriving daily, laden with large numbers of troops, from differ- 
ent parts of the United States. This island was designated by 
the Commander-in-Chief as a favorable position for the gen- 
eral rendezvous of his army, which was designed to operate 
against the city of Vera Cruz and the Castle of San Juan de 
Ulloa. It is two miles in circumference, and appears to be 
chieflv composed of a formation of sea shells, which at first 
has the appearance of coarse sand. 

This island is situated about one hundred miles from Vera 
Cruz, and from about ten to fifteen miles from the main land. 
We could easily discern the watch-fires of the enemy on the 
beach at night, who wei-e probably endeavoring to reconnoitre 
our position from some elevated point, for the purpose of deter- 
mining, as near as possible, the number of our troops and ships, 
together with the most probable point at which we intended to 
land. This island is one of (he most beautiful and romantic 
spots that the mind of man can well conceive; it took its name 
from the number ol s^als found in its vicinity, and which are 
called by the natives " sea wolves," and hence the name Logos, 
which is only a corruption of the Latin word hipus, a wolf. 
Its appearance, when seen from a vessel at a distance, is like 
that of a green speck or bubble, floating upon the blue and 
1 



2 SCOTT S CAEPAIG>' 

placid bosom of the gulf; and the surf or breakers by which 
it is surrounded, look like the distant tops of mountains of snow. 

Its tempo -ature is that of perpetual summer, and the weather 
would be excessively hot were it not moderated by the refresh- 
ing breezes which almost constantly blow from the gulf, and 
Avhich, at particular hours of the day, hg,ve a tendency to mo- 
derate the l;eat, and render it more tolerable. We found the 
weather equally as hot there on the first of February as it is in 
the Southern States in July and August. The troops were very 
much rejoiced at being able, once more, to set their feet on 
terra firma. atler being crowded together, like so many sheep, 
onboard a merchant vessel, and under the scorching rays of a 
tropical sun. ^ox ten, fifteen or twenty days. 

On this island we found very few traces by which we could 
determine that it had ever been visited or inhabited by man, 
either in a civilized or barbarous state, and those appeared to 
be of rather ancient date. We found the likeness of the 
British flag, and another which resembled somewhat that of the 
United States, together with some letters, cat upon the bark of 
a tree, and a very old date, the exact year of which I do not 
now remember. The banyan and cocoa, together with various 
other trees and shrubs, most of which were new to me, were 
f<)und upon the island, growing in all the green luxuriant beauty 
of that land of eternal spring. We found what appeared to be 
a grave, and a well, which had been dug to some depth, and 
then filled up with brush and sticks o? timber. We found the 
water to be quite warm and brackish, and which could only be 
obtained by digging holes in the sand to the depth of some 
three or four feet, in which the water would rise to a sufficient 
height to enable us to dip it out with tin cups, and which could 
have been nothing more than the salt water from the Gulf 
drained through the sand, very small quantities of which would 
act upon the Ijowels like a purgative. 

At first, t!ie officers attempted to furnish us with water from 
the vessels, but even that had a kind of putrid taste and smell 
which made it very offensive, so much so that the men could only 
be induced to use it in cases of extreme necessity. This fetid 
quality of the water was caused by its being put up in unclean 
casks, such as had contained fish, molasses, &c. And I think 
to this cause, more particularly than any other, may be attributed 
the rise and progress of that feartld camp malady called diar- 
rhcea, whose desolating course afterwards swept through our 
ranks vvith the strides of wasting pestilence, leaving death and 
destruction in its rear. 

Our safe and peaceful rendezvous upon this beautiful and 



IN MEXICO. 3 

lovely island, impressed upon my mind, more forcibly than ever 
the mai'tial imbecility of the Mexican people, or their unbounded 
confidence in the strength of their fortified positions, one of 
which caused them to refrain from using the advantage M'hich 
they otherwise might have gained over us in our almost de- 
fenceless position. Hero wo were encamped within full view 
of the main land, and in less than one hundred miies of Vera 
Cruz, without artillery or fortifications, with f)rty or fifty 
merchant vessels, loaded with military stores, ail of which Vv'ere 
j)rotected by one single man-of-war, and that arrived some 
eight or ten days after the island was occupied. I would haz- 
zard the assertion, that a frigate's crew, with a dozen gun boats 
well manned, could have sunk or captured every vessel in the 
harbor, and thus have left us in our isolated position, almost 
without provision, arms or ammunition. 

But no attempt was made on their part to disturb the quiet 
repose of our pleasant and peaceful retreat; perhaps they 
hoped, by so doing, to lure us on into a more certain and deadly 
snare, and render our escape more hopeless, by drawing us 
within the destructive range of the guns of the proud and im- 
pregnable castle of San Juan do UUoa, Vv-hich was designed to 
be the bloody engine that should turn our tall ships of war into 
slaughter pens, and enrich the sterile plains of Vera Cruz with 
the warm hearts blood of an American army cut to pieces. 
About a week after our arrival on the island, a boat reached 
our squadron, bringing intelligence of the wreck of the Ondi- 
aka, Captain Healy, which had been driven ashore by a violent 
Norther, some twenty miles north of our fleet, containing a de- 
tachment of about two hundred and fifty Louisiana troops, who 
had escaped sale ashore from the wrecked vessel, and were 
surrounded by a large body of Mexicans, and were also destitute 
of either arms or provision. The next morning, at daylight, 
the St. Marys, man of war, weighed anchor and hastened to 
their relief, which was soon followed by a schooner, with a 
small detachment of the Louisiana regiment, which had been 
more fortunate than their fellows, and had landed safely on the 
island a few days before- On the next morning, the schoone: 
returned, bringing the welcome intelligence that the wreckec 
troops had made their escape, under cover of the darkness r.; 
the night, and had gone ofi" in the direction of Tampico. L: 
order to elude the observation of the ibrces that surrounder- 
them, they left their tents standing, and their camp fires burn- 
ing, together with one sick man, whom they were unable t< 
carry with them, and who was afl:erwards taken prisoner b; 
the Mexicans, who, he said, furnished him with the necessar 



4 SCOTT S CAMPAIGN 

supplies of food and clothing, and treated him in every way 
very kindly; and on the appearance of the St. Marys and the 
schooner, he wus sent on hoi'seback to the beach, and safely 
delivered up to his friends, and from whom the foregoing par- 
ticulars were obtained. 

Fresh levies of troops continued to arrive daily, until the 
island was almost completely covered whh long extended lines 
of snow white tents, which reached from beach to beach, barely 
leaving space enough to drill the difierent regiments. I never 
was able to ascertain exactly the number of troops that were 
concentrated at this point, but it included almost the whole force 
which was destined to operate against Vera Cruz and the 
Castle, and must have been very little short ot fourteen thousand 
eftective men. 

It was rumored in camp, not long before our departure, that 
General Scott had started an express for General Taylor, under 
a guard, consisting of some forty or fifty men, with despatches 
containing a plan of the campaign, together with his future 
movements, should the city of Vera Cruz and the Castle fall 
into his hands. This guard was said to have been attacked and 
taken prisoners by a large party of Guerrillas or Mexican rob- 
bers, while the officer commanding it was disarmed, stripped 
and tied to a tree, after which his heart Vv'as cut out and exposed 
upon a pole. This had a tendency to give us some idea of the 
tender mercies of the enemy \\ ith whom we had to deal, and 
the treatment wo might expect of them, should we be so unfor- 
tunate as to fall into their hands. 

The enemy's watch fires appeared to be still increasing on 
the beach, which led us to believe that large bodies of them 
were collecting from the interior, actuated, no doubt, with the 
belief that Gen. Scott intended to land a portion of his troops 
somewhere in that vicinity. But in this, as well as many other 
things, they were sadly disappointed, for all the forces on the 
island were ordered to be in readiness to embark for Point 
Lizardo on the first of March, but owing to contrary winds, 
and other unavoidable delays, we were not able to get under 
way until the third; on the afternoon of which day the whole 
fleet was put in motion, dotting the bosom of the Gulf for miles 
around with the white cauA'ass of more than sixty vessels, all 
bearing down under a stiff breeze towards Point Lizardo, 
where we again came to anchor in full view of the lofty domes 
and steeples of that cily on whose walls Hernando Cortez first 
planted the standard of the true cross more than three hundred 
years ago. Here we lay for several days, during which time 
we were employed in putting our arms and accoutrements in 



IN MEXICO. 5 

order, and then awaited a favorable breeze t > wa^t us to ik.2 
little island of Sacrificios, which is situated s me three mv.r < 
below the city of Vera Cruz, near which poat it was n ; v 
determined that the army of invasion should b • landed. And 
on the afternoon of the ninth of March, all hings being in 
readiness, we weighed anchor at Point Lizardc and moved off 
in gallant style, and under a stiff breeze, for oi: • intended point 
of landing below the city. 

The broad canvass of our tall ships whitened the blue waters 
of the Gulf for miles in all directions, at the same time present, 
ing a martial aspect at once awful and sublim:". Here might 
have been seen more than sixty gallant vessels, with their proud 
pennons fluttering in the breeze, loaded with :nili(ary stores, 
and their deck?; crowded with warlike thousand 5, who had but 
recently left the peaceful avocations of home , and are now 
looking out from among the masts and rigging upon the fields 
which were to be won with their valor, or fat(3ned with their 
blood; and the proud walls of the city which vere to crumble 
before the thunder of their artillery, or be the sol ier's sepulchre^ 
Time can never erase from my mind the impre: sions that were 
made by the scenes that surrounded me, on th it beautiful and 
lovely evening that found our fleet at anchor iff the island of 
Sacrificios. The sky vi'as perfectly clear, and ihe sun was just 
disappearing behind the .snow-capped peak of O "azabo; and the 
tall sand hills that rose abruptly from the bead', pushing Iheir 
naked and shrubless summits to the very clouds )f heaven, from 
behind which we expected every moment that a sheet of living 
fire would burst upon us from a masked batter} of heavy artil- 
lery, which the enemy had ample time to hav ; erected, after 
they might have been satisfied as to our intended point of land- 
ing. And such an obstacle might have gready retarded, if 
not entirely cut offj our debarkation, as the only mode we had 
of reaching the coast, which was more than a mile from the 
fleet, was in surf boats, containing from about fifty to a hundred 
men each. And we were led fiir a moment to believe that such 
was the case, and that a warm and fearful reception awaited us, 
from tbe circumstance of our being able to di.itinguish large 
numbers of horsemen and footmen hurrying to and fro upon 
the beach, apparently much agitated and in great confusion. 
In anticipation of such an event, several of our largest ships 
of the line were manned and brought in position for the purpose 
of protecting, as much as possible, the landing of the troops ; 
but even ihei/ might have proved iusutTicient for our purposes, 
had they been promptly met by a strong line of batteries on the 
heights. But no opposition was offered to our landing ; not a 



o SCOTT S CAMPAIGN 

gun was fired to tell that an enemy was near; and thus the 
advantages which might have been gained over the invading 
forces, and which might have told with startling effect upon 
our future movements, and probably have influenced the lead- 
ing features of the whole campaign, were permitted to pass by 
unimproved. 

A little before sun down, the line of surf boats composed of 
Worth's division, was in reapiness to move towards the beach, 
and at a signal given, every boat was put in motion, and with 
the stars and stripes waving at the helm, the long and unbroken 
line of near one hundred boats moved olf simultaneously and in 
gallant style, preceded by a splendid band of music. A death- 
like silence now pervaded every ship, and with deep anxiety, 
and almost .breathless expectation, the crowding thousands 
rushed upon tha decks to witness the grand and imposing scene, 
while all the guns on the battle ships were in readiness, and 
the port fires lighted, under cover of which our troops were to 
land. There was quite a competition among the troops, each 
endeavoring to be foremost in the race, and vieing with each 
other for the honor of Vjeing first to set his foot upon the hostile 
territory. And when the boats reached the shallows where the 
men coukl wade, large numbers of them leaped into the water, 
and holding their arms and accoutrements above the briney 
element, rushed for the beach, and the contest was fierce to see 
who should be entitled to the distinction of first planting the 
proud standard of his country upon the shores of the enemy. 
The name of the officer who accomplished this distinguished 
feat, has passed from my mind, although I distinctly saw him 
as he leaped npon the beach, unfurled its starry folds, and planted 
the staff" deep in the sand. And then the long and deafening 
shouts of tea thousand deep-toned voices from the ships and the 
beach might have been heard shaking both land and sea, and 
awakening with their startling echoes the dead silence of the 
beleagured city. 

The long array of boats soon reached the shore, and quick 
as thought the heavy battalions were formed in battle array, 
with their long extending lines reaching far towards the city, 
with flags flying, music playing, and the serried ranks of glit- 
tering bayonets flashing their light upon the twilight air. I 
viewed that little band of warriors, and contemplated their fine 
appearance and proud military bearing, while every eye flashed 
beams of joy, and every lip was curled with a smile of pleasure ; 
but even then, bodings of evil were sounding in my ear, while 
I thought hew few of those brave and gallant fellows would 
«ver return to those ships they had just left, and make glad a 



IN MEXICO. 7 

mother's heart, when the clarion of war should be hushed in 
the glad notes of returning peace. 

The afternoon had been spent in landing one division, and 
the gathering darkness of night was now upon us, consequently 
Patterson's division was ordered to remain on board their ves- 
sels until the next inoriiiiig, when they Vi-ere landed in the same 
manner, and upon the same boats, tliat Worth's division had 
been on the evening jjefore. 

The tall summit of Orizabo, with its coronet of snow, set 
with the icy gems of perpetual winter, can oidy be seen with 
any distinctness from the shipping in the harbor, about the 
hour of sun-set and sun-rise ; during the ])alance of the day, 
the hazy atmosphere obscures the view and renders it alnxjst 
imperceptible. This will not be a matter of surprise, when 
we learn that this mountain, although 17,400 feet above the 
level of the sea, is yet more than 100 miles from the coast. 
Clavijero, who seems to be a historian generally relied upon 
by the writers of the present day, says that there can be no 
doui)t that this is the highest point of land in Mexico; but in 
this he is evidently mistaken, as subsequent and more accurate 
calculation have shown, beyond the possibility of a doubt, that 
Popocatapetl, in the vicinity of Mexico city, is decidedly supe- 
rior in point of elevation, being about 17,900 feet above the 
level of the sea. n 

It was ascertained that the point at which Scott's army 
landed upon the beach, three miles below the city of Vera 
Cruz, was the very identical spot where Hernando Cortez 
landed his slender force, and began the conquest of Mexico, 
more than three centuries ago. And after layiiig the corner 
stone of the Villa rica de la Vera Cruz, and planting upon its 
walls the emblem of the true cross, he took up the line of 
march, by the way of Orizabo, for the rich and populous city 
of the Aztec empire. The population of the city of Mexico, 
at that time, must have been immense, as one of the Aztec 
chiefs assured Cortez that they were able to lose twenty thou- 
sand men fi^r every Spaniard that was killed, and then be able 
to conquer him, or annihilate his army, in the end. 

By 9 o'clock on the morning of the 10th of February, the 
debarkation of all our troops was effected; and immediately on 
reaching the coast, the South Carolina, Georgia and A^labama 
regiments, composing Ceu. Quitman's brigade, were ordered 
to move towards the heights that bound the western side of the 
city, and proceed fijrthwith to occupy the sand-hills in that 
vicinity. Here they met a large body of the enemy's cavalry, 
together with some detachments of infantry, and after some 



8 scott's campaign 

severe skirmishing, in which some fell on both sides, the Mex- 
icans were routed and driven, with loss, from their position. 
It was here that Lieutenant Colonel Dickinson, of the Palmetto 
regiment, received a severe wound in the left breast, while his 
hand was raised in directing the lire of his men towards a 
particular portion of the enemy's line. Several of his men 
were also wounded, being pierced by the large escopet balls, 
which the enemy can throw with great effect and precision to 
the distance of half a mile. Our ordinary muskets would not 
carry a ball that far, with the certainty of doiiig any material 
execution ; so that we were exposed, for a short time, to a 
deadly and destructive fire from their lines, while they were 
almost beyond the reach of our shot. Thus it appears that 
the first blood that was shed on the new line, or the line of 
General Scott's operations, flowed from, the veins of the Pal- 
metto regiment; and the crimson current was not staunched 
from the first drop that was spilled beneath the walls of Vera 
Cruz, till the Garitas were stormed, and our victorious army 
trod, in triumph, the treacherous streets of the Mexican capital. 

We were completely within reach of the heavier guns of the 
city asd castle, and which commenced throwing their shot and 
shells among our ranks as soon as our appearance upon the 
heights gave them a fuller and more distinct view of our posi- 
tion. It was the wish of General Scott to draw a line of in- 
vestment completely around the city, describing a semi-circle, 
;ind extending from beach to beach ; and he proceeded ii^ime- 
diutely to put in operation the plans l^y which he intended to 
accomplish this o])iect, as it was very desirable that this desi- 
deratim, which vouchsafed so many advantages to the besieging 
forces, should bo olitained at the earliest possible date. This 
line of military posts was about seven miles in length, and was 
compleled on the third dav after our arrival ; the northern ex- 
tremity of which reached the beach above the city, near the 
mouth of the Antigua river. The night bef*ire this line was 
closed, it was said that fifteen hundred iiacked mules, loaded 
with provisions for the garrison, entered the city at its northern 
gate, from the interior of the t.ierra calientes. 

From all we could learn from the most reliable sources, it 
was evident to our minds that the "revision supplies of both the 
city and castle were extremely short, which was deemed alto- 
gether favorable to the successful prosecution of a siege. •The 
commander of the garrison had probably not deemed it neces- 
sary to lay in large commissary stores, as he never dreamed of 
being besieged by the American forces in su^h a climate as 
that, and at a time, too, in which the deadly vomito was just 
1* 



IN MEXICO. 9 

commencing its wasting ravages, and the resident strangers, 
together with a large portion of the citizens, were flying Irom 
the scourge, and seeking a more sale and healthy home in the 
interior. Although they depended, no doubt, more for protec- 
tion upon their climate than their arms, yet in this particular, 
atleast, they were somewhat disappointed; and in this instance, 
finally proved a fatal delusion to them, and in tw(j weeks placed 
their city and castle at the mercy of their assailants. 

My impression is, that with the requisite number of brave 
and well disciplined troops, who would have stood by and 
manned the tour hundred i)ieces of heavy artillery that was 
mounted upon the walls of the castle of San Juan de Ulloa, 
that it would ever have proved impregnable to any naval or land 
force that could have been biought against it. The walls of 
the fortress are built of coral rock, and are from twelve to 
fifteen feet thick, and perfectly bomb proof in every part; and 
there is no doubt but that our whole naval force might have 
been throwing shot and shells against the walls of that castle 
from the commencement of the war till the present hour, with- 
out having effected a breach in the works, or done any material 
or vital injury to the garrison. The tact is, it could sink every 
ship in our navy in forty-eight hours, if they were placed within 
range of its guns. Commodore Connor, and other distinguish- 
ed officers, pronounced it impregnable ; Commodore Perry 
' intimated that it could be taken, but he never seemed altogether 
willing to try it with his ships. It is considered, and 1 think 
justly so, the third strongest fortification in the world, that of 
Gibraltar and Quebec only, being superior to it. It was by the 
accidental explosion of a magazine that enabled the French to 
take it in 1839; and General Thompson, in his work, says 
that any liture assailant may not expect so easy a victory, if it 
should be even tolerably detended. 

I well remember, as 1 looked out tVom the shipping, as we 
lay at anchor near the island of Sacrificios, and saw the national 
flag of irlexico as it proudly floated from the tall flag staff' of 
the castle, that I involuntarily exclaimed, as I bent my anxious 
gaze upon it, "how many valuable lives will it cost to pull 
down that proud ensign, and place the stars and stripes in its 
stead!" As soon as the landing of our artillery and ordnance 
stores could be effected, we commenced preparing for tlie erec- 
tion of batteries on the surrounding heights, from wliich we 
intended, ere long, to rain an iron storm, mingled wilh fire, 
upon ihe devoted and self-secure iahabiiants of the ancient city 
of the true cross. 

It was with incessant labour and toil that the heavier pieces 



10 seOTX's CAMPAIGN 

were carried up the steep and precipitous sand-hills over which 
it was necessary to pass, in order to reach the proper elevation 
for playing upon the enemy's works to advantage. 1 have seen 
not less than twenty horses, and one hundred men, labour in- 
cessantly, and without a moment's intermission, tor a whole 
day and night, in getting one of our heaviest pieces into battery. 
The road tor the carriages had to be cut through the dense 
chaparral, and in many instances hills were cut down, and 
ravines filled up, forming a route for our heavy siege trains, 
which had before been considered impassible on foot by the 
active hunter of the forest. For two long and tedious weeks 
this work was going on, until a semi-circle of heavy batteries 
were drawn entirely round the beleaguered city, and the trown- 
ing magazines of death slumbered upon every hill-top, and the 
red lava of destruction was ready to burst from a hundred 
yawning craters, and roll the angry waves of a fiery deluge 
over the proud city that quietly slept in the valley beneath. 
And the reader will remember that all this heavy work was 
accomplished by our troops within direct range of the guns of 
the city and castle, which continued to shower their shot and 
shells thick among us by day and night, until our last gun was 
mounted, and our own batteries ready to return the fire which 
we had stood so long from theirs. 

When one of our men, pierced by the fatal shot, would fall 
in the ditch, another would be present, ready and willing to 
seize the spade which had just dropped from the cold hands of 
his fallen comrade, and carry on the work with increased 
energy, perhaps soon himself to share the fate of his companion. 
At length the heavy task is done, the last shovelful of sand is 
thrown up, the last sand-bag is placed upon the rampart, and 
the last gun mounted. Al! this time we had stood their fire 
with unfiinching firmness, without returning a single shot, but 
now we are ready and willing to exchange iron compliments 
with our city friends, which we did not fail to do, and that with 
a vengeance. 



CHAPTER II. 

At a quarter-past tour o'clock, on the afternoon of the 22d 
day of March, all things being in readiness, Worth's batteries 
opened upon the red forte near the Eastern gate of the city, 
waking up the gunners from their quiescent repose, and making 
the very city quake to its deep foundations. The Palmetto 



IN MEXICO. 1 I 

regiment had been detailed to assist in erecting the marine 
battery, which they had just accomplished, when Worth opened 
the ball for the evening, and received a response from the whole 
line of the enemy's works, which set the heavens in a blaze, 
and shook the surrounding hills. 

I had the pleasure, at this exciting moment, of being within 
less than five hundred yards of the walls of the city, and my 
position being quite an elevated one, aflbrded me a distinct and 
beautiful view of the two contending lines of batteries, and 
brought me near enough to the forts on the walls to enable mc 
to see the Mexicans touch ofi" their pieces, and I could distinctly 
hear the bombs as they rolled above my head, and passed on in 
their wild career of destruction. I must confess that at first I 
felt some little anxiety about the fate of our batteries, as it 
appeared to me that the enemy must at least have thrown fuur 
shells to our one; but then I remembered that Worth was 
there, and those tried and veteran heroes who stormed the 
Bishop's palace at Monterey; and with such men as these to 
man our guns, I knew all must be right in the end. Although 
the enemy's works were stronger than ours, and they could 
number more men and guns, yet our artillery corps was liy no 
means idle, or their eflbrts without eflect, for I could occasion- 
ally see them wrapped iu sheets of fire and clouds of smoke, 
and sending their death shots thick and fast against the trembling 
walls of the city. And well and faithfully did our engineers do 
their work, planting every shot at or near the point desiirnated. 
which told with fearful effect upon the city generally, but more 
particularly upon the fortified points upon the beach, and along 
the outer wall on the south side of the city. 

At length night sat in, and darkness brooded over the tented 
field, and wrapped in one general gloom the busy thousands 
that trod the bloody streets within the walls, or laboured in the 
ditches without. But the drowsy ear of night was vexed, and 
the sable cheek ot darkness was made to blush, by the inces- 
sant discha'ges of cannon and mortars, and the crash of flil'ing 
shot and the bursting of bombs, and the lurid glare that flashed 
along our lines and lit up the surrounding scene with a blaze of 
livinji light. Nor were the enemy's works by any means idle, 
but f lilhful to their rharge, they showed themselves worthy of 
their country's confidence, and hurled back the iron curses of 
death with a spirit that told that they were defending the graves 
of their fathers, their altars and their fires. 

A view of the contending batteries from the surrounding 
heights at night, was peculiarly grand and sublime ; to see the 
fire-tailed bombs passing each other from the opposite works, 



12 scott's campaign 

followed by trains of light from the burning fuise, describing a 
semi-circle, and then exploding with a thundering crash amid 
the falling timbers of (he city, while the wails of the wounded 
and dying, together wiih the shrieks of women and children, 
rising high above the general din of deadly strife, was enough 
to appal the stoutest heart, and cause even the war-worn 
soldier, with his seared feelings, and blunted sensibilities, to 
sigh for the enjoyments of peace amid the quiet circle of home 
and friends. During the whole of that long and eventful night, 
the tired soldier never left his gun nor ceased his labour for a 
moment; and the vigilant eye of the anxious thousands that 
crowded the surrounding heights, never slept, but the dawning 
of the morrow's light found both the gunner and the watcher 
alike at their posts. 

The city of Vera Cruz is a regularly walled town, with para- 
pets, embrnsures, and loop-holes for musketry, the wall enclos- 
ing three sides, while the fourth is bounded by the Gulf. It is 
entered by three gates, situated about mid-way of each parallel 
line of the wall, which is also protected by fortifications, and 
watched by sentinals; the side which is bounded by the beach 
is entered at the Custom House, near the mole or wharf. At 
each of the four corners of this wall is erected a fort, and one 
at each intermediate point between ; each of the seven forts 
which garnish the walls of this city, mounts from ten to twelve 
guns. These walls are built mostly of stone, interspersed with 
Ijrick and mortar, and a kind of coral I'ock, and are from ten to 
fifteen feet high, and about three feet thick, and made with loop 
holes for the use of infantry. 

The vast level plain stretching itself out before the city, and 
reaching from the walls as fiir back as the foot of the sand 
hills, is perfectly smqoth, without a bush, shrub or stone, and 
is about four hundred yards in extent. And had our artillery 
failed to bring the garrison to terms, and our army been com- 
pelled to take the city by storm, they would have been exposed 
to a destructive fire fs'om no less than seven l^atteries and a 
thousand muskets at the loop holes, which must inevitably have 
mowed down thousands of us before we could possibly have 
reached the wails, besides large numbers which must have 
fallen in the streets. It would have cost our army, at the least 
calculation, fifteen hundred men, to have taken the city of Vera 
Cruz by storm, and reduced its garrison and citizens to submis- 
sion; and had we been commanded by a General more ambi- 
tious than Scott, but less prudent and skilful, we might have 
been led against those walls, and in the face of the Mexican 
cannon, like sheep to the slaughter. 



IN MEXICO. 13 

There were holes dug, and deep ditches cut, all round on the 
outside of the walls, with iron and wooden spikes drove in the 
bottom, with the sharp points projecting upwards, together 
with every other impediment that they could possibly throw in 
our way, to impede the rapidity of our advance, and prevent us 
from scaling tha, walls. They had planted heavy pieces of 
cannon so as to rake the principal streets, and had taken up the 
pavement and carried the large stones of which it was com- 
posed to the roofs of the houses, in order to hurl them down 
upon the Americans after they had entered the city. The Mex- 
icans had certainly never dreamed of our being able to reduce 
their works by any other means than by storming them, as they 
had made all their strongest and most careful preparations with 
the view of most successfully defending themselves against that 
particular mode of attack. They had evidently calculated with 
too much certainty upon the great strength and efficiency of 
their castle, and was thereby led into an error that cost them 
dearly. They seemed to think that under its powerful protec- 
tion, the city, and every thing in it, was safe; and that our 
light batteries must be swept away before the wasting aflects of 
its heavier pieces, like grass before the reaper, and that our 
numerous and well appointed army, invincible as they W(n-e, 
must melt away by thousands, and vanish before the superior 
prowess of the Mexican arms, like mists before the morning sun. 

Residf^nt foreigners, and Consuls residing in the city, seem 
to have been deceived by the same fatal error, for when the 
privilege was kindly ofiered to them, by General Scott, of 
retiring with their families and effects, to some more safe posi- 
tion, they positively refused the proffered kindness, supposing 
themselves in no danger at all, and quietly remained in their 
quarters within the walls of the city. The women and children 
generally of the city were offered the same privilege, but they 
also refused to avail theniselves of its advantages, and chose to 
remain where they were; but when the bombs and round shot 
began to fall pretty thick about them, shattering their dwellings, 
binsting within their houses, and shaking down the strong 
stone walls about their ears, they began to discover their dan- 
cer, while their situation was hourly becoming more critical. 
They then sent an express to the Commander-in-Chief, begging 
permission to pass out of the city and flee to a place of refuge 
whei-e their lives would not be so much exposed, but it was not 
convenient at that time to permit them to do so, and their appa- 
rent reasonable request was not granted ; they had allowed 
the golden opportunity to pass, and now they were compelled 
to abide the consequences, and blame no person but themselves. 



14 scott's campaign 

I have said that it was Worth's batteries that opened upon 
the city and castle on the afternoon of the 22d of March, and 
of course the artillery companies did belong to Worth's com- 
mand, and no doubt he was present in person, directing the 
movements of the troops and the management of the guns. 
But the different batteries on the south west side of the city, 
and those which opened first upon the enemy's works, were 
more immediately under the command of Colonel Bankhead, 
Chief of Artillery. He was ready to open a fire upon the city 
and its works from batteries No. 1, 2 and 3, as early as two 
o'clock on the afternoon of the 22d, but he did not rec«!ive 
orders from the General-in-Chief till a quarter-past four, when 
the order was extended and promptly obeyed. Battery No. 3, 
commanded by Captain Vinton, was erected between the city 
and cemetery, or general burying ground, and but a few paces 
in front of the latter, so that the shot and shells from the ene- 
my's works which were directed against this battery, would 
frequently pass beyond it, and pierce the gloomy vaults of the 
dead, laying bare the bones of those that had held peaceful 
possession of this charnel-house of death for centuries past. 
But now the ravages of war, as if not content with scattering 
the shafts of death among the living, had actually invaded the 
voiceless domains of the tomb, as if to wreak its vengeance 
upon the bones of past generations, by disturbing the quiet 
slumbers of decayed mortality. 

I passed through this burying ground a few days after the 
surrender of the city, and found the ground perfectly covered 
with the fragments of broken coffins, winding sheets decayed 
and torn, human skulls and bones of every description ; and 
even the little chapel in the centre of the area, where the last 
burial ceremonies were performed, was perfectly riddled with 
cannon shot. It will be remembered that the Mexicans bury 
their dead in vaults above the ground, frequently ranging one 
above above another for four or five deep ; and when the bodies 
of the dead have remained a certain number of years, until the 
process of decomposition is complete, their bones are removed 
from the vault and placed in a charnel-house erected for the 
purpose, while their places are filled with new corpses. 

It was in the ditch in front of this place that the brave and 
accomplished Captain Vinton fell mortally wounded, and ex- 
pired in a few minutes. I saw the shell that struck him ; it 
contained more than two hundred musket balls, but did not 
explode. I afterwards learned that it was preserved and sent 
home to his family. 

The command of Battery No. 3 now devolved upon Lieut. 



irf MEXICO. 15 

Vanvliet, of the 3d Artillery, who proved himself a brave and 
skilful officer, and conducted himself with distinguished gallantry 
during the whole siege. 

The lire from our batteries up to twelve o'clock on the 23d, 
had been rather moderate, on account of the want of a sufficient 
supply of shot and shells ; Colonel Bankhead supposed that his 
batteries did not tire more than one shot in every live minutes. 
The cause of this was, that a large portion of our ordnance 
stores had not yet been landed from the ships, and as the sea 
was very rough, occasioned by the blowing of a violent Noiiher, 
it was thought dangerous to attempt to run small boats from the 
ships to the beach until the wind had abated. On the night of 
the 24th, the wind had fallen, and the sea had become suffi- 
ciently calm tor the boats to pass, when a large supply of shot 
and shells were conveyed to the trenches under cover of the 
night, which enabled our line of batteries to commence active 
operations early on the next morning. 

During the night a spirited fire was kept up on the part of 
our works, which was returned with no small degree of life 
and energy from the guns of the city and castle. At daylight 
on the morning of the 25!;h, the frequency of our shots was 
increased to about two hundred discharges of round shot and 
shells per hour, which was kept up with great effect upon the 
works about the city until four o'clock in the afternoon, when 
the reception of a white flag caused the firing to cease for a 
few hours. But it was soon again renewed from all the batte- 
ries, and continued, without a moment's intermission, through 
the night, and until a!)out eight o'clock on the morning of the 
26th, when all the batteries ceased firing, in obedience to an 
ordM" direct from head quarters, which had been issued in con- 
sequence of an express from the city requesting a parley for the 
purpose of taking into consideration the terms or a surrender. 

It was ascertained during this day that almost every shot 
and shell from our guns had fallen within the walls of the city, 
burning some houses and knocking down the roofs and walls 
of others, while the destruction of life and property was very 
great, extending even to women and children, priests, prelates 
and friars, ntms in their cloistered cells, and those that were 
assembled at mass in the churches. If the bombardment had 
continued two days longer, there would scarcely have been a 
building in the city that would have escaped the etiects of our 
shot and shells, and the beautiful city of the true cross, where 
the pious fathers of other centuries had met and worshiped, 
would have been little better than one shapeless heap of stone, 
brick and mortar; one undistinguished mass of ruins. Thou- 



16 scott's campaign 

sands of women and childi'pn, and the citizens generally, whose 
services were not required at the guns, and even the wounded, 
with the blood still unstanchcd, would assemble in vast multi- 
tudes upon the beach, without the walls of the city, at its 
northern extremity, as that point was most remote from the 
effects of our batteries, in order to protect themselves from the 
bursting bombs, and the falling walls of the houses, which had 
already buried scores beneath their crumbling ruins. 

The principal pieces used on our batteries were the 18 and 
24 pounder, the 8-inch howitzer, and the 10-inch mortar; but 
most of the enemy's pieces were much heavier than ours, more 
especially those upon the castle. The number of shot and 
shells thrown from our batteries into the city was estimated at 
something more than three thousand, but judging from the 
effects produced, I should be disposed to think that five thousand 
would scarcely cover the number. The bombardment was 
opened at a quarter-past four o'clock on the afternoon of the 22d 
of March, and closed at 8 o'clock on the morning of the 26th, 
including a period of about 88 hours. But our batteries were 
not in active operation during the whole of this time ; several 
temporary suspensions of hostilities were granted by vhe 
General-in-Chief, for the purpose of giving time for parlies 
between the belligerent parties, and a portion of the time the 
briskness of our tire was very much impeded for the want of a 
sufficient supply of shot and shells. Up to the time when the 
firing was ordered to cease, not more than one half of our 
effective pieces had jjeen brought into battery ; three additional 
platforms for mortars had been erected by the engineers during 
the day of the 25th, and in the course of the night one 24-pounder, 
two 8-inch howitzers, and fourteen mortars, Avere being con- 
veyed to the batteries ; but the firing had ceased before they 
reached their proper point of destination, and they were accord- 
ingly ordered back to the depot. 



CHAPTER III. 

During the investment of Vera Cruz, it was reported to 
General Scott, that a large cavalry and infantry force of the 
enemy was assembling in the direction of the Madellen river, 
and were fortifying themselves at the bridge of the Morena. 
He immediately ordered Colonel Harney to take Captain 
Thornton's squadron of dragoons, under the immediate com- 
mand of Major Sumner, and fifty dismounted men, under Capt. 



IX MEXICO. 17 

Ker, and see if he could not bring him a good account of the 
enemy's forces in the course of the day. Colonel Harney, in 
approaching the bridge, found that if was fortified, and defended 
by about two thousand men, with two pieces of artillery. 
When within al)out two handred yards of the bridge, our ad- 
vance guard was fired upon from the enemy's lines, and one 
corporal killed and several privates severely wounded. 

Finding the bridge rather more strongly fortified than he 
anticipat(3d, and defended with cannon, Colonel Harney thought 
it expedient to fall back 1,0 a safe position, and send to our lines 
for a lew pieces of artillery, by the assistance of which he felt 
confident that he would be able to route the enemy, and drive 
him froin his position with great slaughter. In the mean time, 
Captain Hardee, hearing of the expected engagement, had 
collected a company of about fifty men near the beach, and 
came rushing on to the rescue, and arrived in time to render 
efficient service. They were also joined by a company of the 
first Tennessee regiment, under the command of Captain 
Cheatham, and four companies of the second Tennessee regi- 
ment, commanded by Colonel Haskell, which reinforcements 
augmented the force of Colonel Harney to quite a respectable 
and efficient number. 

The whole operating fovce was now collected, and waiting 
in anxious expectation for the coming fight, which they all 
looked upon as the first fair trial of their mettle which they had 
had the pleasure of meeting since their arrival on the hostile 
teri'itory ; and each one was looking fi^rward to the approaching 
coml)at with peculiar feelings of pride and exultation. Lieut. 
Judd, of the 3d x\rtillery, was also soon upon the spot with his 
company and two pieces of ligiit artillery, who was ordered to 
move directly down (he road leading to the bridi>-e. As soon as 
he arrived in sight of the enemy's works, they opened an inces- 
sant, and well-directed fire against his whole line ; but in orcfer 
to divert their fire, flankers v/ere thrown out, and a brisk fire 
v/as opened upon the right and left wings of the eneniy's lines. 
This manoeuvre in some degree protected Lieutenant Judd 
whihi he was bringing his pieces to bear upon the (brtifications 
on the bridge ; and soon he was down upon them in a blaze of 
fire, and with five or six well-directed rounds, succeeded in 
creating confusion in the ranks of the enemy. A charge was 
then ordered by the commands of Colonel Haskell and Captains 
Cheatham and Hardee, which was executed in the most bril- 
liant and successfid manner, and succeeded in driving the 
Mexicans from the bridge in great disorder, leaving the ground 
strewed with their dead. But the momentary pause made by 



18 bcott's campaign 

our troops at the breast works, gave the retreating enemy time 
to rally, and ahnost instantly they were discovered to be form- 
ing again upon the edge of the chapparrel on the opposite side 
of the river. 

Major Sumner's squadron of dragoons, which had been held 
in reserve, was novi' ordered up, and in one of the most gallant 
and successful charges ever made, dashed among the enemy, 
though arrayed in fuarful odds, and with blades of flashing steel 
drove them in wild and scattered confusion from every point, 
who fled, leaving large numbers of their dead and wounded 
upon this, the second field of their defeat. The pursuit was 
continued several miles, until the prevailing darkness of the 
night put a stop to the victorious career of our troops. Many 
were overtaken and cut ofl' in the flight, and not less than fifty 
were found lying dead at the bridge, and scattered along the 
road, besides large numbers of wounded that must have escaped 
in the chapparrel under cover of the night. Colonel Harney, in 
his official report of the fight, says that " Lieutenants Lowry 
and Oakes, with only three men, pursued a party of aiiout thiity 
lancers, who left the main track and turned off in a Ijye road, 
and all but five were either sabred or dismounted. Major 
Sumner and Lieutenant Sibley, at the head of the first set of 
fours, had several personal encounters with the enemy, who 
were in every instance either killed or dismounted. 

This proves what has often been said of the superior mus- 
cular power and moial courage of our troops over that of the 
Mexicans, and whenever they have been met in a hand to hand 
fight, it has always been their lot to be overcome and routed, 
with almost any odds of number, or advantages of position in 
their favour. Ahhough this may be attributed in part to the 
inefficiency of the lance as a weapon of warfare, which cer- 
tainly never can be brought into successful contact with the 
sword and bayonet ; I believe that it has long since fallen into 
disuse among most of the European nations. The lance is 
only considered efficient for the first thrust in a close encounter, 
but if that is not successful, the swordsman has every advant- 
age, and can either ki'l or disarm his adversary at pleasure. 
The shaft of the lance is too long to Ijc used to advantage after 
the adversary has approached beyond a certain distance ; it can 
also easily be cut off below the iron point by a skifful swords- 
man. The lancers frequently carry them confined to the stirrup 
or horn of the saddle by a long twine or leather string, and by 
this means they can throw or pitch them some fifteen or twenty 
feet, according to the length of the string, and then draw them 
back at pleasure, and they have often been known to kill a man 



IN BIEXICO. 19 

at that distance : but I believe, on ordinary occasions, they are 
seldom thrown out of the hand. 

A troop of Mexican lancers, mounted on their fiery and gaily 
caparisoned mustangs, all in full uniform and rapid motion, 
presents at once a most beautiful, grand and martial spectacle. 
To see them with their burnished lances glittering in the sun, 
and their dashing red streamers fluttering in the breeze, and 
their well-trained horses at the charg'^, has a tendency to re- 
mind one of what he has read of the mailed champions of the 
days of knight errantry. The shaft or handle of the lance is 
about six feet long, with a steel or iron j)oint about one foot in 
length, and the shape is almost exactly similar to that of a pike 
on the end of a flag staff; the blade has a socket, in which the 
shaft is inserted and co'^fined with rivets. I had the pleasure 
of seeing the lance of Padre .farauta, which was taken by 
Major Folic at the battle of Segaultipan, which was fougl.t 
principally by the Texas Rangers and some other detachments 
under the command of Geneial Lane. Jarauta was severely 
wounded in the arm during the skirmish, but was able to eftect 
his escape, which he did on foot, as his horse, saddle and lance, 
were taken on the field and brought to the city of Mexico. 
His lance was a very beautiful article, made of the most costly 
material, and was ornamented with many rich and rare deco- 
rations ; the streamer was made of red" silk, some four inches 
wide and about eighteen inches long; the blade was two-edged, 
very sharp, and mode of polished steel. 

The lancer is also generally armed with an escopet, which 
is a short gun, about eighteen inches long, and carrying an 
ounce ball ; this he carries confined to the stirrup and the pom- 
mel of the saddle, and can be used with great effect at the 
distance of half a mile. E do not believe that the lancers, as a 
corps, are in the habit of carrying swords and pistols, although 
I have seen them with both, yet I do not believe that they are 
considered generally as a part of their equipage, the lance and 
escopet being considered sufficient. 

General Twiggs' brigade occupied and held the extreme 
northern point of the line of military posts which had been 
drawn around the city, and which terminated at the village oi 
Vergara, near the mouth of the Antigua river. This brigade 
left the point of landing below the city on the morning of the 
llth of March; the regiment of mounted riflemen, under Col. 
Persifor F. Smith, forming the advance. But after passing the 
position of the first brigade, Major Sumner's command, com- 
posed of the first squadron of mounted riflemen, was ordered 
ibrward, with instruction to act as advance guard. After reach- 



20 SOOTT S CAMPAIGN 

ing a point some distance beyond the piquet guard of the 
volunteei" division, he was met, and his advance opposed, by a 
considerable force of the enemy's light troops, and after some 
very warm and spirited skirmishing, in which Major Sumner 
and his whole command distinguished themselves for noble 
bearing and cool and deliberate courage, drove the enemy, with 
some loss, from their position, while our troops continued their 
march as before. On reaching the position of Gen. Pillow's 
brigade, the advancing columns were halted, for the purpose of 
allowing the men time to rest themselves, while the rear of the 
line came up. During this short halt, which was within range 
of the enemy's heavier pieces, a round shot from one of the 
forts on the walls of the city killed Captain Alburtis, of the 2d 
infintry, and one private belonging to the mounted rifles, at the 
same time taking ofi* the leg of one private, and the arm of 
another, all of wliich v\fas done by the same ball. 

On reaching the Orizaba road, a considerable number of 
the enemy's horsemen were seen on the left, of our advancing 
lines, and who appeared, from their rapid manceuvreing, to be 
preparing for battle. A company of mounted riflemen, com- 
manded by Captain Sanderson, was immediately detached and 
sent forward, with orders to attack the enemy and drive them 
from their position. And being supported by Captain Simon- 
son's company of the same regiment, they succeeded most 
admirably in their plan of attack, killing two Captains, besides 
a considerable number of lancers, completely routing them at 
every point, and driving them beyond tfie surrounding hills, 
and then returned to their commands without the loss of a man. 

By a series of most brilliant charges and successful skirm- 
ishing, the detachments which had been hanging about and 
harrassing our lines, were now completely routed and driven 
from the surrounding heights. The way being now open, and 
clear of all further opposition, General Twiggs ordered his 
lines to be extended as far towards the main road leading to 
Jalapa as the number of his forces would permit, and there 
bivouacked with his whole force until the morning of the 13fh, 
when he again took up the line of march toward the beach; 
Major Sumner's command still composing the pioneer guard. 
The head of the column reached the beach at the village of 
Vergara, about two miles above the city of Vera Cruz, at the 
hour of 12 o'clock, M,; which position it held in spite of the 
bloody hordes of lancers that were constantly hanging upon its 
rear, until the fhial surrender on the 28th, which imposing cer- 
emony took place in full view of their lines. 

I have no reliable information now at hand that would justify 



IN MEXICO. 21 

me in attempting to give the exact number of killed, wounded 
and missing, either on our side, or that of the enemy, during 
the siege; perhaps less than one hundred in killed and wounded 
would cover our loss from the time of our landing uo to the 
surrender. The loss on the part of the enemy must have Ijeen 
infinitely greater, as they were more exposed, and fought under 
greater disadvantages, being crowded together in dense masses 
Avhere almost every one of our shot was sui'e to do some exe- 
cution. If I were to judge from the injury the city sustained 
worn the effects of the siege, and aware, as I am, of the very 
dense population which were crowded within its walls during 
the time ot the whole bombardment, I should say that one 
thousand would not more than cover the extent of their loss 
in killed and wounded. 

The terms of the capitulation being agreed upon by the 
Commissioners appointed fur that purpose upon both sides, our 
whole army was marched out upon the plain before the city, to 
witness the formal surrender of the garrison. The morning 
rose bright and beautiful, not a cloud hung upon the horizon's 
verge, or ladened the dewy-wings of the new-born day; nor a 
passing vapor to dim the mild beams of a tropical sun. .Toy 
beamed in every countenance, and a smile of satisfaction curled 
the mustached lip of the war-worn soldier, as he looked out 
upon the rich trophies of victory; the hard-earned fruits of 
incessant labour, danger and toil. The siege of Vera Cruz 
had ended ; the last hostile gun had been fired from its cantoned 
walls ; and its waning thunders had died away in the distance, 
while the dense clouds of smoke which had so long hung in 
gathering darkness over the devoted and ill-fated city, had now 
rolled away upon the distant mountain tops. The noisy engines 
of death had finished their bloody work ; the red lava of destruc- 
tion is no longer belched forth from their burning bowels ; their 
hot bolts of vengeance are laid aside, and like the lion exhaust- 
ed in the chase, they now slumber in quiet repose upon the 
shattered and blackened walls. And never was quiet more 
welcome, or rest more sweet and refreshing; for sixteen 
sleepless nights and perilous days had the tired and war-worn 
soldier been at his post, either la1>ouring in the trenches, work- 
ing his gun, or watching and fighting the skirmishers that were 
constantly hanging upon and harrassing our rear. 

At about 11 o'clock, on Siniday, the 28th day of March, the 
whole Mexican fijrce, including the garrison of both the city 
and castle, and numbering in all about 7.000 men, marched out 
in order at the south gate of the city, and surrendered them- 
selves prisoners of war, in the presence of the whole American 



22 SCOTx'a CAMPAIGN 

army, and after delivering up their arms, were permitted to 
retire peaceably, and without further molestation, to their 
homes, on their parol of honor, not to take up arms again during 
the present war, unless regularly exchanged as prisoners. 
The whole of the artillery of the cit}»and castle, amounting to 
near five hundred pieces, was surrendered at discretion, to- 
gether with about seven thousand stands of small arms, such as 
carbines, muskets, escopets, &;c., with a very large amount of 
ammunition and ordnance stores. f^ 

I can never forget the feelings of national pride and exulta- 
tion that seized and agitated my anxious bosom, and in which 
the whole army seemed to participate, as it flashed like light- 
ning along the crowded ranks, and manifested itself in half- 
suppressed murmurs of applause, when I saw the stars and 
stripes, that proud banner tliat had waved over half the world, 
and swept old ocean's home, run up upon the flag-stafl" of the 
impregnable castle, while it was saluted by twenty-eight rounds 
from the very guns, which, but a few days before, had been 
been scattering their death-shots thick and wide amongst our 
ranks. I have heard the poets celebrate the honor of our flag 
in their wildest and most exalted strains of poetry; I have 
heard the orator, in his grandest and sublimest flights of fancy, 
attempt to depict the resplendent glories of the, almost omnipo- 
tent, banner of the stars ; but never have I felt its potency in 
all its irresistible and controlling influence, until I saw its 
bright and starlit folds flung out to the breeze upon that proud 
eminence where the untamed eagles of Anahuac had fluttered 
for centuries with free and unfettered wing. The startling fact 
was pealed out in thunder tones upon the ear of an astonished 
world, that the proud, far-famed, and most powerful castle of 
San Juan de Ulloa, whose stately walls and towering ramparts 
had been pronounced utterly impregnable to any force by some 
of the first ofliicers of the army and navy, was now in posses- 
sion of General Scott and his invincible troops, while its 
granite bound streets were trod in triumph b}^ the restless feet 
of "the barbarians of the north." 

The two forts upon the beach, Santiago and Conception, 
were surrendered in the same way, by pulling down the Iri- 
colored flag of Castile, and running up the stars and stripes in 
its stead, and which was soon enveloped in clouds of smoke 
which rose from the salute of the guns below, as twenty-eight 
rounds were fired from the captured pieces of each fort. I 
thought I never had seen General Scott look so well as he did 
that morning, as he sat in his saddle a head and shoulders taller 
than those around him, his fine eye flashing, and his counte- 



IN MEXICO. 23 

nance lit up with a smile. He dashed past our lines on his fine 
bay charger, accoinpanied by General Worth and his staff, aiid 
hastened to take his position at the head of the columns, and 
near where the Mexican lines were to be formed. I noticed 
that his horse would paw the ground and champ the bit, when 
the booming of the cannon v/ould reach his ear, as if impatient 
to l)ear his gallant rider to the battle. 

The Mexican army manifested a good deal of patriotic indig- 
nation and wounded pride, in the surrender of their arms ; they 
w'ere required to march out from the city and stack their arms 
in the presence of the American army, in doing which, some 
of them would hurl them against the ground as though they 
would break them in pieces, while others would pull off their 
hats and dash them down, stamping them under their feet with 
muttered curses of indignation, while others, turning to take a 
last farewell of their ancient and beautiful city as it was now 
fading in the distance, would rend the air with the most pitious 
howls and lamentations. Mothers were seen with their child- 
ren in Iheir arms., hurrying to and fro through the ranks, car- 
rying in their hands their most valuable articles of furniture, 
as though they expected that every thing (hey left behind them, 
even their homes and firesides, and fiimily altars, would be 
swept away before the desolating march of the merciless in- 
vader. Children were seen hanging to the skirts of their 
fathers, loaded with toys and play-things ; some with chickens 
under their arms, other leading and coaxing along some favor- 
ite dog, which perchance had been the pet of the family. 
Cages of parrots and canary ])irds, rattles and ribbons, violins 
and guitars, together Avith all the paraphernalia of a Mexican 
household, all mingling in splendid confusion with the life 
likeness of the Holy Virgin, and the figure of our Saviour upon 
the cross; Avhile towering high above all, in silent grandeur 
and majesty, was seen the worshipped and venerated house- 
hold god, the San!a Cruz (holy cross,) the end, the object and 
the controlling agency of Nuestra Sania Fe, (our holy faith.) 

It appears that General Morales, who was then acting as 
governor of Vera Cruz, was justly entitled to the honor, emolu- 
ments and responsibilities of Commander-in-Chief of all the 
forces composing the garrison of the city and castle ; but he 
saw proper, from some cause or other, to dodge this onerous 
responsibility himself, and invest General Landero with the 
chief command, which will be further shown l;y the corres- 
pondence between himself and General Scott during the siege, 
and pending the discussion of the articles of capitulation. 
General Scott, in his official report to the Secretary of War, 



24 scott's campaign 

under date of the 21st of March, uses the following language : 
" 1 concur with the engineers that the best positions for shelling 
and battering the castle are outside of Vera Cruz. Neverthe- 
less, the possession of the city would enable us to take those 
positions, (should the necessary mortars and guns ever arrive,) 
without the molestation of a flank fire, and at the same time to 
reduce the line of investment, now about six miles, to less than 
three. This would be an inunense advantage iu circulating 
supplies from either flank to the centre, besides rendering the 
army, liy compactness, four times stronger against attacks from 
without or within." 

It was considered, for some time, a question worthy of debate, 
whether the city would be any decided advantage to us without 
the possession of the castle also ; and it was said that the city 
was offered to General Scott, immediately after his arrival be- 
fore it, bat that he refused to receive its surrender without that 
of the castle also. It was said that General Morales boast- 
ingly remarked that he could give General Scott the city of 
Vera Cruz and then !s;nock it down over his head in twenty- 
four hours after he had entered it ;. and 1 have no doubt but that 
he would have been able to have made his promise good. It 
was even a matter upon which the engineers were not agreed, 
whether the walls and buildings of the city, were it in our pos- 
session, would afford our troops any essential advantage in 
bombarding and reducing the castle. So that the advantages 
which General Scott notices in his report, are about the only 
ones of consequence which would have resulted to the besieg- 
ing army, from the reduction of the city alone, viz .- that of 
reducing our line of investment to one half its present extent, 
and rendering it doubly strong by concentrating its resources, 
ami cutting off the advantages then possessed by the enemy, of 
annoying us by a flank fire. My impression is, that the most 
effectual plan for annihilating our army in the shortest possible 
time, would have been to have marched it within the walls of 
the city, and then have undertook, from its walls and buildings, 
to have battered down the castle, or knocked the garrison into 
terms. Very few of our men would have been left to tell the 
tale of the sad experiment. 



CHAPTER IV. ^ 

In order to throw as much light as possible upon the hostile 
operations before the city, and the general conduct of the siege 



IN MEXICO. 25 

and final surrender of the garrison, it might not be improper to 
give, somewhat in detail, the summon to surrender, and the 
correspondence consequent thereon, together with some short 
despatches from the different Consuls of other nations, residing 
in Vera Cruz, and lastly, the articles of capitulation. A careful 
perusal ot thisaorrespondcnce cannot fail to delight the general 
reader, and more than repay him for his trouble. The same 
amount of information upon that particular subject in so brief 
and condensed a form, cannot perhaps lie acquired from any 
other source. And besides this, it contains facts that can be 
relied upon, substantiated by the very highest authority, bear- 
ing upon it the seal and impress of official dignit}-, and statistical 
veracity, which none can for a moment doubt or gainsay. 

Head Quarters of the Army of the U. S. of America, ) 
Camp Washing toji, before Vera Cruz, March 22, 1847. ^ 

The undersigned, Major General Scott, General-in-Chief of 
the Armies of the United States of America, in addition to the 
close blockade of the coast and port of Vera Cruz, previously 
established by the squadron under Commodore Connor, of the 
navy of the said States, having now fully invested the said city 
with an overwhelming army, so as to render it impossible that 
its garrison should receive from without succor or reinforce- 
ments of any kind; and having caused to be established batte- 
ries, competent to the speedy reduction of the said city, he, the 
undersigned, deems it due to the courtesies of war, in like 
cases, as well as to the rights of humanity, to summon his 
Excellency, the Governor find Commander-in-Chief of the 
city of Vera Cruz, to surrender the same to the arms of the 
United States of America at present before the place. The 
undersigned, anxious to spare the l)eautiful city of Vera Cruz 
from the imminent hazard of demolition — its gallant defenders 
from a useless effusion of blood, and its peaceful inhabitants — 
women and children inclusive — from the inevitable horrors of a 
triumphant assault, addresses this summons to the intelligence, 
the gallantjy, and patriotism, no less than to the humanity of 
his Excellency, the Governor and Commander-in-Chief of 
Vera Cruz, The undersigned is not accurately informed 
whether both the city of Vera Cruz and the castle of San Juan 
jde Ulloa be under the command of his Excellency, or whether 
each place has its own independent commander; but the un- 
dersigned, moved by the considerations adverted to above, may 
be willing to stipulate that, if the city should, by cnpitulations, 
be garrisoned by a part of his troops, no missile shall be fired 
from within the city, or from its bastions or walls, upon the 
2 



26 scott's campaign 

castle, unless the castle should previously fire upon the city. 
The undcrsipiecl has the honor to tender to his distinguished 
opponent, his Excellency, the Governor and Commander-in- 
Chief of Vcia Cruz, the assurance of the high respect and 
consideration of the undersigned. WINFIELD SCOTT. 

[translation.] 

The undersigned. Commanding General of the free and 
sovereign State of Vera Cruz, has informed himself of the 
contents of the note which Major General Scott, General-in- 
Chief of the forces of the United States, as addressed to him 
under date of to-day, demanding the surrender of this place, 
and castle of Ulloa; and, in answer, has to say, that the above 
named fortress, as well as this place, depend on his authority ; 
and it being his principal duty, in order to prove worthy of the 
confidence placed in him by the government of the nation, to 
defend both points at all cost, to effect which he counts upon 
the necessary elements, and will make it good to the last ; 
therefoiehis Excellency can commence his operations of war 
in the manne •■ which he may consider most advantageous. The 
undersigned has the honor to return to the General-in-Chief of 
the forces of the United States the demonstrations of esteem he 
may be pleaf^ed to honor him with. 

God and liberty! Vera Cruz, March 22, 1847. 

JUAN MORALES. 
To Mnjor General Scott, General-in-Chief of the forces of the 
United .States, situated in sight of this place. 

Head Quarters of the Army, 
Camp Washinglon, before Vera Cruz, March 22, 1847. 

I have this moment received your note of this date, inquring 
whether, in my opinion, it may not be a necessary measure of 
expediency to stop for the j)resent the intercourse heretofore 
allowed bctvveen the neutral vessels of war oft" this coast and 
the city and castle of Vera Cruz. 1 promptly answer in the 
affirmative, considering that both places are now blockaded by 
our squadron under your command, and the city not only invested 
by our army, but actually under the fire of our land batteries. 
The intercourse — the subject of your note — cannot, it seems to 
me, however neutral in its intended character on the part of the 
foreign ships-of-war present, fail to give the places in question, 
under our fire, much moral aid and comfort. 

With high respect, &c., &c., WINFIELD SCOTT. 
Com. M. C. Peruy, U. S. N., 

Commanding Home Squadron, &;c. 



in mexico. 27 

United States Steamer Mississippi, ) 
Qlf f^iacrijicios Island, March 22, 1847. \ 

Sir: The city and castle of Vera Cruz beinf^* now closely 
besieged and blockaded by the military and nav;;! forces of the 
United States, it has become necessary to prevent all commu- 
nication from outside, unless under the sanction of a flag ol' 
truce. I am, therefore, constrained to inform yon that all inter- 
course between the vessels and boats under your command and 
that part of the American coast encompassed l-y the United 
States forces, must, for the present, cease. 

With great respect, I have the honor to be, yoj'.r most obedi- 
ent servant, M. C. PERRY, 

Commanding Home Squadron. 
Com. H. S. Matson, H. B. M. sloop Daring ; Captain Manuel 

DE LA PuENTE, Commanding H. C. M. Nava! Forces, Gulf 

of Mexico ; Captain G. Dubut, Commanding French Naval 

Forces, Gulf of Mexico. 

Correspondence heiween Major General Scolt and the Foreign 
Consuls at Vera Cruz, and. their letters to the late Governor 
of Vera Cruz, and the consequent letter to Major General Scoii. 

[translation.] 
The undersigned, Consuls of different foreign powers near 
the republic of Mexico, moved by the feeling of humanity ex- 
cited in their hearts by the friglitl^Lil results of the bombardment 
of the city of Vera Cruz duiing yesterday and tljc day before, 
have the honor of addressing, collectively. General Scott, 
commander-in-Chief of the army of the United States of the 
north, to pray him to suspend his hostilities, and to grant a rea- 
sonable truce, sufficient to enable their respective compatriots 
to leave the place with their women and children, as well as 
the Mexican women and children. The request of the under- 
signed appears to them, too, conformable to the existing ideas of 
civilization, and they have too high an opinion of the principles 
and sentiments of General Scott, not to be fully confident of 
the success of this request. They pray him to have the good- 
ness to send back his answer to the -parleinenlaire, who is the 
bearer of this, and to accept the assm-ance of their respectful 
consideration. 

Vera Cruz, 2ith March, 1847. 

T. GIFFORD, Consul de sa Majcste Britai.ique. 
A. GLOUX, Le Consul de so jMajeste le Roi des Francais. 
FELIPE G. DE ESCALANTE, El Consul de Espana. 
HENRI D'OLERIE, Consul de S. M. le Roi de Prusse. 
A true translation of the original paper for the Secretary ol 
War. E. P. SCAMMON, A. A. D. C. 



28 scott's campaign 

Head Quarters of the Armt, ) 
Vera Cruz, March 29, 1847. ) 
Sir: The flag of the United States of America floats tri- 
umphantly over the walls of this city and the castle of San 
Juan de UUoa. Our troops have garrisoned both since 1 o'clock. 
It is now noon. Brigadier General Worth is in command of 
the two places. Articles of capitulation were signed and 
exchanged at a late hour night before last. I enclose a copy of 
the document. I have heretofore reported the principal inci- 
dents of the siege up to the 25th instant. Nothing of striking 
interest occurred until early in the morning of the next day, 
when I received overtures iVom General Landero, on whom 
General Morales had devolved the principal command. A 
terrible storm of wind and sand made it difficult to communicate 
with the city, and impossible to refer to Commodore Perry. I 
was obliged to entertain the proposition alone^ or to continue 
the fire upon a place that had shown a disposition to surrender; 
for the loss of a day, or perhaps several, could not be permitted. 
The accompanying papers will show the proceedings and 
results. Yesterday, after the norther had abated, and the 
Commissioners, appointed by me early on the morning before, 
had again met those appointed by General Landero, Commo- 
dore Perry sent ashore his second in command, Captain Aulick, 
as :i Commissioner on the part of the navy. Although not 
included in my specific arrangement made with the Mexican 
commander, I did not hesitate, with proper courtesy, to desire 
that Captain Aulick might be duly introduced, and allowed to 
participate in the discussions and acts of the Commissioners 
who had been reciprocally accredited. Hence, the preamble 
to his signature. The original American Commissioners were, 
Brevet Brigadier General Worth, Brigadier General Pillow, 
and Colonel Totten. Four more able or judicious officers could 
not have been desired. 1 have time to add but little more. 
The remaining details of the siege ; the able co-operation of 
the United States squadron, successively under the command 
of Commodore Connor and Perry; the admirable conduct of 
the whole army — regulars and volunteers — I should be happy 
to dwell upon as the}^ deserve ; but the steamer Princeton, with 
Commodore Connor on board, is under way, and I have com- 
menced organizing an advance into the interior. This may be 
delayed a lew days, waiting the arrival of additional means of 
transportation, In the mean time, a joint operation, by land 
and water, will be made upon Alvarado. No lateral expedi- 
tion, however, shall interfere with the grand movement to- 
wards the capital. In consideration of the great services of 



IN MEXICO. 29 

Colonel Totten, In the siege that has just terminated most 
successfully, and the importance of his presence at Washington, 
as the head of the engineer bureau, I entrust this despatch to 
his personal care, and beg to recommend him to the very 
favourable consideration of the department. 

I have the honor to remain, Sir, with hif h respect, your 
most obedient servant, WINFIELD SCOTT- 

Hon. W. L. Makcy, Secretary of War. 

Head Quarters of the Army of the U. S. } 
Camp Washinglon, hffore Vera Cruz, Ma xh 25, 1847, \ 
The undersigned, Major General Scott, &( ., &c., had the 
honor to receive (last night at a late hour) the d emorials signed 
by the Consuls of Great Britain, France, Spai: and Prussia, in 
the city of Vera Cruz, requesting that the un lersigned would 
grant a truce, sufficient to enable the Consuls md the subjects 
of those powers, together with the Mexican won en and children, 
to leave the city, now under a close siege and jloclvade. The 
undersigned deeply regrets the lateness of this application, for 
up to the 23d instant, the communication betw en the neutrals 
in Vera Cruz and the neutral ships-of-war lyin ; off* Sacrificios, 
was left open mainly to allow those neutrals r a opportunity to 
escape from the horrors of the impending sie; e, of which the 
undersigned gave to the Consuls every admonit )n in his power. 
In respect to a truce, it must, on reflection, b ^ evident to the 
Consuls, that the undersigned cannot grant on ■, except on the 
application of the Governor and Commander-i i-Chief of Vera 
Cruz, accompanied by a distinct proposition to surrender. In 
the mean time, the siege will go on with increased means and 
vigor. That the unavoidable distresses of the women and 
children, in the besieged place, had deeply engaged the sympa- 
thies of the undersigned, before one shot or shell had been 
fired by him in that direction, he begs to refer lo the accompa- 
nying copy of his summons, addressed the 22d instant, to his 
Excellency, th» Governor and Commander-in-Chiet of Vera 
Cruz. His Excellency chose to consider the castle of San 
Juan de UUoa, as well as Vera Cruz, to be included in that 
summons, and expressed his confidence in his ability to make 
a successful defence of both. The undersigned has the honor 
to tender to the Consuls of Great Britain, France, Spain and 
Prussia, the assurance of his high respect and consideration. 

WINFIELD SCOTT. 
To Messrs. Gifford, Gloux, EscaLante, and D'Oliebe, die, 
Vera Cruz. 
2* 



liJ SCOTt's campaign 

I have the aonor of transmitting to your Excellency the ex- 
position Avhic'ii has this moment been made to me by the 
Seno7-es Com- ils of England, France, Spain and Prussia, in 
which they si iicit that hostilities may be suspended while the 
innocent fam ies in this place, who are suffering the ravages of 
war, be enal ed to leave the city, which solicitude claims my 
support; and considering it in accordance with the rights of 
alflicted humr nity, I have not hesitated to invite your Excellency 
to enter into ;in honorable accommodation with the garrison, 
in which case you will please name three Commissioners, who 
may meet at : ome intermediate point, to treat with those of this 
place upon the terms of the accommodation. With this motive, 
I renew to ycur Excellency my attentive consideration. 

God guard your Excellency, &c. On account of the sick- 
ness of the Commanding General. 

JOSE JUAN DE LANDERO. 

Major Ger.eral Scott. 

Copy for the Hon. Secretary of War. 

E. P. SCAMMON, A. A. D. C. 

[TRA^^sLATIo^^] 

The under igned. Consuls of several foreign powers near 
the Mexican Government, hav'e the honor to address to the 
Commanding General of the State of Vera Cruz, a copy of 
the answer \vhich they have received from General Scott, 
Commander-in-Chief of the army of the United States of the 
north, to the request that they have made for a truce, which 
permits their respective countrymen, as well as the Mexican 
women and children, to go out of the place of Vera Cruz. 
More and mere afflicted by the disasters which this place has 
suffered during the three days that it has been bombarded, and 
desiring fully to perform the duties of humanity which the 
missions that they have received from their governments and 
their own personal feelings impose, they beseech the Com- 
manding General Morales, to present to General Scott a demand 
so reasonable as theirs. 

They have the honor to renew to the Commanding General 
Morales the assurances of their respectful consideration. 

T. GTFFORD, Consul de sa Majeste Britannique. 

A. GLOUX, Le Consul de Francais. 

FELIPE G. DE ESCALANTE, El Consul de Espana. 

HENRI D'OLIERE, Le Consul de S. M. de Rio de Prusse. 

Translation for the Hon. Secretary of War. 

E. P. SCAMMON, A. A. D. C. 



IN MEXICO. 31 

Credentials of Commissioners on the part of the United 

States. 
In consideration of the proposition the undersigned has re- 
ceived Irom Scnor General Landero, the actual Commander of 
the city of Vera Cruz and its dependencies, that three Com- 
missioners be appointed on the part of each lielligerent to treat 
of the surrender of the said city, with its dependencies, to the 
besieging armies before the same — the undersigned, Major 
General Scott, General-in-Cliief of the armies of the United 
States of America, has appointed, and does hereby appoint, 
Generals W. J. Worth and G, J. Pillow, with Colonel John 
G. Totten, Chief of Engineers, all of the army of the United 
States, Commissioners on the part of the undersigned, to meet 
an equal number of Commissioners, who may be duly appointed 
on the part of the S(^nor General Landero, to treat of the sur- 
render of the city of Vera Cruz and its dependencies, to the 
arms of the said States- 
Done at Camp Washington, the head quarters of the army 
of the United States of America, this twenty-sixth day of 
March, in the year of our Lord 1847. 

WL\FIELD SCOTT. 

Head Quarters of the Army, ) 
Camp Washingt07i, before Vera Cruz, March 26, 1847. \ 

Outlines of instructions to the Commissioners appointed on 
the part of the United Slates, and commissioned by the under- 
signed to treat with such persons as may b(> duly authorized on 
the part of the city of Vera Cruz and its dependencies, on the 
subject of the surrender of the same : 

1. The whole garrison or garrisons to be surrendered to the 
arms of the United States as prisoners of war. 

2. The garrisons to be permitted to march out with the 
honors of war, and to ground arms to such force as may be 
appointed by the undersigned, and at a point to be agreed upon 
by the Commissioners. 

The surrendered places to be immediately garrisoned by the 
American troops. 

4. Mexican officers to preserve their side-arms and private 
effects, including horses and horse furniture, and to be allowed, 

(regular and irregular officers,) at the end of days to 

retire to their res[)ective homes on the usual parole, with the 
exception of such officers as the two parties may deem neces- 
sary to accompany the rank and tile to the United States. 

5. The rank and file of regular regiments, corps or compa- 
nies to remain as prisoners of war, subject to be sent to the 



83 scott's campaign 

United States, (with such Mexican officers as may be needed 
with the men,) and to be clothed and subsisted by the United 
States, at the uhimate cost ot" the belligerent, that may be 
agreed upon by a definitive treaty of peace. 

6. The rank and file of the irregular portion of the prisoners 

to be detained days, and subsisted (if necessary) for the 

time l)y the United States, when they may be permitted to retire 
to their respective homes, their officers giving the usual parole 
that the said rank and file shall not serve again until duly ex- 
changed. 

7. All the material of war, and all public property of every 
description liiund in the city and its dependencies, to belong to 
the United States; but the armament of the same, not injured 
or destroyed in the tiuther prosecution of the actual war, may 
be considered as liable to be restored to Mexico by a definitive 
treaty of peace. 

8. If the Mexican Comniission.ers decline, from the want of 
power or authority, to treat of the surrender of the castle of San 
Juan de UUoa, the American Commissioners will urge the 
former to ask for such powers, and gratit any necessary delay 
to that end; but if such power be not asked for, or be not, on 
application, obtained, the American Commissioners may, hesi- 
tatingly, consent to refer the subject back to the undersigned 
for further instructions to meet that state of thin<is. 

WINFIELD SCOTT. 
Note — Article 8 was not, of course, given to the Mexican 
Commissioners. 

A true copy of the original paper. 

E. P. SCAMMOxX, A. A. D. C. 

General Landero's letter, notifying the appointment of Mexican 
Commissioners. 

In virtue of your Excellency's having accepted the proposi- 
tion of aceonnr.odation which I proposed to you in my despatch 
of to-day, and in accordance whh the reply I have just received, 
I have the honor to intinm you that I have Jiamed, on my part, 
the Senoras Colonels D. .lose Gutiinrez Villanueva, D. Pedro 
Miguel Herrera, and the Lieutenant Colonel of Engineers, D. 
Manuel Robles, to whom I have entrusted the competent power 
to celebrate said accommodation, having the honor to enclose 
you a copy of the express power. 

I reiterate to your Excellency the assurances of my high 
consideration. 

God and liberty ! Vera Cruz, March 2fi, 1S47. 

JOSE JUAN DE LANDERO. 



IN MEXICO. 33 

Six propositions from the Mexican Commissioners to the 
(if neraJ -in-Chief. 

1st. The garrison will evacuati^ the place within a time to 
be agreed upon botwren the ])elligerent parties, retiring to the 
city of Orizaba or Jalapa, by regular day marehes, according 
to the custom of armies on a march. 

2d. The aforesaid garrison shall march out with all the 
honors of war, colors displayed, dfums l)eating, stores l)elong- 
ing to the corps of which it is composed, and allowance of Held 
pieces corresi)onding to its force, baggage and munitions of war. 

3d. The Mexican tlag shall remain displayed on the bastion 
of Santiago until the retiring Mexican garrison shall be out of 
sight of the city ; and, on hauling it down, it shall be saluted 
with twenty-one guns fired from the same bastion, until which 
time the forces of the United States shall not enter the place. 

4th. The inhabitants of Vera Cruz shall continue in the free 
possession of their moveable and immoveable property, in the 
enjoyment of which they shall never be disturbed, as well as in 
the exercise of their religious I'aith. 

5th. The National Cuaids of Vera Cruz, if they find it 
convenient to retire peaceal)ly to their homes, not to l)e mo- 
lested on account ol their conduct in bearing arms in defence of 
the place. 

6lh. The undersigned desire to know, in case the Senor 
General Scott should have to continue hostilities on account of 
not admitting these propositions, if he will permit the neutrals 
to go out ot the place, as well as the women and children be- 
longing to the Mexican t"amilies. 

PEDRO M. HERRERA. 

.TOSE GUTIERREZ DE VILLANUEVA. 

MANUEL ROBLES. 

Translated from the original paper tor the Honorable Secre- 
tary of War. 

Head Quarters of the Army of the U. S. of America, > 
Camp Washington, before Vera Cruz, March 27, 1847, \ 

The undersigned, Major General Scott, General-in-Chief of 
the armies of the United States of America, has received the 
report of the Commissioners appointed by him yesterda}^ to 
meet the Commissioners appointed by his Excellency, General 
Landero, the Commander-in-Chief of Vera Cruz and the castle 
of San Juan de Ulloa. In making that report, the undersigned 
received, informally, from his Conniiifsioners, the project oi an 
arrangement presented to them by the Mexican Commissioners, 
consisting of six articles. Without reproducing these articles, 



34 scott's campaign 

«? extenso, the undersigned will simply refer to them by their 
respective numbers: 

Article 1. Is wholly inadmissable. The garrisons of the 
places in question can only be allowed to march out or to eva- 
cuate them as prisoners ot war ; but the undersigned is willing 
tha.t each garrison, without distinction between regular troops 

and national guards or nulitia, may retire in the delay of 

days to their respective hoifies, the officers giving for them- 
selves and their respective men, the usual parole of honor not 
again to serve against the United States of America in the 
present war until duly exchanged. 

Article 2. The garrisons may be allowed all the honors of 
war usually granted to gallant troops ; but to surrender their 
side arms of every sort, save tiie side arms of the ofRcers. 

Article 3. As liir as practicable by the Commissioners of the 
two armies, this may be arranged to satisfy the just pride of 
the gallant defenders (jf the place in question. 

Article 4. Is readily agreed to, and may be solemnly pro- 
mised. 

Article .5. This is substantially met in the above remark 
under Article 1. 

Article 6. Not admissible in any case. 

Taking the foregoing remarks, and the instructions of the 
undersigned to his Commissioners — which instructions were 
substantially communicated to the Mexican Comurissioners — 
as the basis of an honorable capitulation, the undersigned, to 
spare the further efllision of blood, is willing to refer back the 
whole subject to the same Commissioners of the two parties — 
provided that the said Commissioners meet again to-day at 10 
o'clock, A. M., at the same place as yesterday, and proceed 
without delay to a definite conclusion of the whole subject. 
The undei'signed will wait the answer of his Excellency, Gen. 
Landero, u[) to 9 o'clock this day; and, in the mean time, re- 
news the assurances of his high respect and consideration. 

VVINFIELD SCOTT. 

[traxslatiox.] 

0//ice of the Commanding Genenil in Vera Cruz. 
Most Excelleat Sir : As long as the Senior General Don 
Juan Morales remained at the head of the troops, UUoa was 
subordinate to him, but this Senor General having separated 
himself, he delegated to me the command of this place, only 
reserving to himself, Ulloa independent, in which garrison I 
have no military jurisdiction; therefore, as long as the articles 
which compose the capitulation arc not known to me, I cannot 



IN MEXICO. 35 

address that Scnor Governor, in order that he ma} say whether 
he accepts them or not. This much I have to say to your 
Excellency in answer to the ver])al message brought to me by 
the Adjutant who accompanies the Senor's Commissioners, in 
order that this difficulty should place no obstacle to our 
arrangements; and I again protest to you the testimony of my 
consideration. 

God and liberty ! Vera Cruz. .t!arch 27, 1847. 

JOSE JUAN LANDERO. 
To the Senor General c^f the ibrces of the United States before 
this place. 

Articles of C a pit Ilia! ion of the city of Vera Cruz and the 
castle of San Juan de Vlloa. 

PuENTE De Horxos, ) 

Without the w;dls of Vera Cruz, Saturday, March 27, 1847. ^ 

Terms of Capinduliun agreed upon by the Commissioners, liz: 
Generals W. J. Worth and G. J. Pillow, and Colonel J. G. 
Totteu, Cliief Engineer, on the part of Major General S(;ott, 
(Tcneral-in-Chief of the armies of the United States ; and 
Colonel Joic Gutierrez de Vilaneuva, and the Lieutenant Colo- 
nel of Engineers, Manuel Robles, and Colonel Pedro de 
ilerrera, Commissioners appointed by General of Bi'igade, 
Don Jose Juan Landero, Commanding-in- Chief Vera Cruz, the 
caslle of San Juan de Ulloa, and their dependencies, tor tl>e 
surrender to the arms of the United States of said forts, with 
their armaments, munitions of war, garrisons and arms. 

1. The whole garrison, or garrisons, to be surrendered to the 
arms ofthe United States as prisoners of war, the 29th instant, 
at 10 o'clock, A. M.; the garrisons to be peimitted to march 
out with all the honors of war, and to lay^ down their arms to 
such otbcers as may bo appointed by the General-in-Chief of 
the United States armies, and at a point to be greed upon by 
the Commissioners. 

2. Mexican officers shall preserve their side arms and pri- 
vate effects, including horses and horse furniture, and to be 
allowed, regular and irregular officers, as also the rank and 
file, five days to retire to their respect've homes, on parole, as 
hereinafter prescribed. 

3. Coincident with the surrender, as stipulated in article 
first, the Mexican flags of the various forts and stations shall 
be struck, saluted 1)y their own batteries ; and immediately 
thereafter forts Santiago and Conception and the castle of San 
Juan de Ulloa occupied by the forces ofthe United States. 



§6 scott's campaign 

4. The rank and tile of the regular portion of the prisoners 
to be disposed of after surrender and parole, as their General- 
in-Chief may desire, and the irregular be permitted to return to 
their homes. The officers, in respect to all arms and descriptions 
of force, giving the usual parole, that the said rank and file, as 
^vcll as themselves, shall not serve again until duly exchanged. 

5. All the material ot war, and all public property of every 
description found in the city* the castle ot San Juan de Ulloa, 
and their dependencies, to belong to the Unite I States; but 
the armament of the same (not injured or destroyed in the 
further prosecution of the actual war) may be considered as 
lial)le to be restored to Mexico by a definite treaty of peace. 

6. The sick and wounded Mexicans to be allowed to remain 
in the citv, with such medical otHcers and attendants, and 
officers of the army as may be necessary for their care and 
treatment. 

7. Absolute protection is solemn!}" guarantied to persons in 
the city, and property, and it is clearly understood that no private 
building or property is to be taken or used by the forces of the 
United States without pievious arrangement with the owners, 
and for a fair equivalent. 

8. Absolute freedom of religious worship and ceremonies is 
solemnly guarantied. 

(Signed in duplicate.) 

W. J. WORTH, Brigadier General. 

GID. T. PILLOW, Brigadier General. 

JOS. G. TOTTEX, Colonel and Chief Engineer. 

JOSE GUTIERREZ DE VILLANEUVA. 

PEDRO MANUEL HERRERA. 

MANUEL ROBLES. 

Captain Aulick, appointed a Commissioner by Commodore 
Perry, on behalf of the navy, (the General-in-Chief not being 
able, in consequence of the roughness of the sea, to communi- 
cate with the navy until after commiss^ioners had been ex- 
changed.) and being present by Genenil Scott's invitation, and 
concurring in the result and approving thereof hereto affixes his 
name and signature. J. H. AULICK, Captain U. S. N. 

Head Quarters of the Army of the U. S. of America, } 
Camp Washimrton, before Vej-a Critz, March 27. 1847. ^ 
AA-proved and Accepted. " WIXFIELD SCOTT. 

M. C. PERRY, 
Conmiander-in-Chief U. S.N. Ibrces Gulf of Mexico. 

Vera Cruz, Marzo27, 1847. 
Approbad y acceptado. JOSE JUAN DE LAN DERO. 



IN MEXICO. 37 

It will be seen from the foregoing correspondence that Gen- 
eral Scott did, at an advanced stage of the siege, refuse to 
permit the women and children of the Mexican families, together 
with the neutrals residing in the ciiy, to pass out of the same to 
a place of safety. But when all the circumstances of the case 
are taken into consideration, and impartially investigated, it 
will be obvious at once that no blame whatever can attach to 
our brave and humane commander tor the part which he acted, 
and the official authority which a proper regard for the success 
and safety of the American arms, and the usages of war, com- 
pelled him to exercise in this particular case. He had, pur- 
posely, and with a view to offer every fiicility for the escape of 
the neutrals and innocent families, left the communication open 
between the city and the neutral ships in the harbor, for several 
days after the landing of the army; but reposing implicit con- 
fidence in the protection which the guns of the castle and the 
forts of the city w'ould secure to them, they remained quietly, 
and in fancied security, witb.iu their homes, and actually refused 
to avail themselves of the opportunities to escape, which were 
so kindly extended to them. But after they became aware of 
the danger of their position, and their dwellings began to topple 
and fall around them, and our shot and shells were falling and 
tjursting among them, they then became alarmed and begged 
permission to pass without the city and seek a place of safety; 
but that it was impossible to grant their request, at that ad- 
vanced stage of the siege, without yielding many advantages 
which had already been gained, and subjecting the besieging 
forces to great inconvenience, must at once be apparent to all. 
And if the innocent suffered with the guilty, from the ravages 
of a war which they had no part in provoking, and which they 
did not assist, in any way, in prosecuting, or identified them- 
selves with either party, the responsibility is with them, and the 
fault lies at their own door, while no blame whatever can attach 
to General Scott. 



CHAPTER V. 

The violent northers which occasionally lash the waters of 
the Gulf into fury, and fill the air with clouds of sand, were a 
source of great inconvenience to these who labored in the 
trenches and manned the batteries, besides the immense injury 
sustained by them from the shipping in the harfjor. Those 
gales would commence l^lowing most generally in the night, 



38 scott's campaign 

and would continue with increasing violence for twenty-four 
and sometimes for forty-eight hours, and even nuch longer than 
that, without one moment's cessation. The ditches that would 
1)6 cleared at night, and made leady for mounting the guns, 
weie frequently found next morning to be fdled with sand, so 
much so. that it was often impossible to discover even the 
slightest traces of the immense labom* of the previous day. 
The air would be frequently so filled with the flying particles 
of sand, that it was found impossible to walk about with any 
degree of satisfaction, without having the face covered. I have 
seen whole lines of tents Ijlown down and completely covered 
up by the hot breath of the Simoon ])last that swept on in its 
resistless fury, leaving not a vestige behind to tell of the ruin 
it had wrought. Hills were swept away, and valleys filled up, 
by the darlc and angry deluge of sand that rolled on before the 
giant strides of the tempest ; while the tbam-capped billows ot 
the Gulf, on whose crested wave the storm king sat enthroned, 
goading the maddening waters to fury, broke upon the sounding 
coast with a violence that made the very hills tremble, and 
shook the deep-seated mountains to their base. 

The tall, strong built ship, that had outrode the fury of an 
hundred storms, and dashed the salt spray from her bow in 
every ocean, was here hurled, by the violence of the storm, from 
her moorings, and dashed to atoms upon the boiling reef or the 
rocky coast. I rememljer, while on the march to Alvarado, 
the route of Avhich led us along the beach for more than sixty 
miles, that we were scarcely ever out of sight of a wrecked 
vessel, with its damaged cargo scattered upon the beach, which 
became an easy prey to the numerous bandits that infest that 
country, and find their hiding places in the caverns ot the sur- 
rounding mountains. These northers are periodical, and rarely 
ever prevail but at two regular seasons of the year, viz: about 
the close and commencement of the rainy season, and are 
confined pretty much to the Gulf and Pacific coast. From the 
wrecks of government vessels, and the loss of military stores 
alone, I should think that the United States must have sustained 
a loss of more than a million of dollars, besides other inciden- 
tal losses of the same nature, and occasioned in the same way. 

I must here beg the reader's pardon for a small digression 
from the thread of my narrative, while I indulge in a k\v friendly 
strictures upon a work recently published, and purporting to 
have been written by George F. Ruxton, member of the Royal 
Geographical Society, the Ethnological Society, &c., and is 
entitled, "Adventures in Mexico and the Rocky Mountains," 
from the press of Harper and Brothers, New York. I pur- 



IN MEXICO. 39 

chased the book at, the city of Montgomery, Alabama, mainly 
for the purpose of relieving, by its cursory perusal, the dull 
monotony of hoteln, stage coaches, and rail cars, a long train 
of which still lay between me and my boyhood's home, in my 
native State, and I was anxious to sieze upon every opportunity, 
for the purpose of relieving the anxieties of my mind, by whil- 
ing away the intervening moments which still divitled me from 
home and friends, as pleasantly as I could. 

I have since read this work with much care and attention, 
and have compared some of the statements and assertions 
therein contained, with some observations of my own, which I 
had taken some pains to make during a sojoum in that country 
of some eighteen months. The writer is an English gentleman, 
as he himself confesses, and which will abundantly appear from 
almost every line of his work, tie is an author of some merit, 
especially if we are to judge from the size, style, and matter of 
his work ; 1)ut it is evidently written with more fjrce than accu- 
racy; with a greater regard to the rounding of the periods, than 
the truth of history; notwithLitanding he evidently possesses a 
portion of general information, Ijut he has not ])ermitted himself 
to see things as they really were. It is very apparent that he 
permitted an ill-founded prcjiidice, or a well-founded jealousy, to 
distort his vision, l)ias his judgment, and pervert the truth of 
history, for the manifest pm-pose of disparaging and underrating 
the character and capacities of those who were not so fortunate 
as to have been nurtured and i>rought up beneath the wholesome 
and genial skies of " merrio England." 

The writer, evidently witli a design, leaves his readers en- 
tirely in the dark as to the main object of his visit to Mexico 
and the Rocky Mountains ; and the consequence is, that all who 
might wish to know^ any thing detinite aliout this important sub- 
ject, which might have a tendency to throw light upon the 
moving cause which prompted this wayward son of the "fast 
anchored Isle " (o break the leading strings of parental authority 
and take this long and dangerous voyage to a foreign and pes- 
tiferous country, infested with robbers and land pirates, must 
content themselves with a Ijold but fruitless adventure upon the 
sea of uncertainty, with a prospect of finally being wrecked upon 
the shoals of conjecture. His travels could not have been 
prompted by a desire to inquire into the condition of the slave 
population of that country, with the view of ameliorating their 
hard and hapless lots, and extending to them the rights and 
immunities which are vouchsafed to the free and independent 
citizens of that country. I say this could not have been his 
object, as the English are characterized for accomplishing most 



40 scott's campaign 

things that they undertake, and George F. Ruxton, Esq., evi- 
dently left this highlj favoured land of the semi-barbarian, 
without making but very tew advances towards the accomplish- 
ment of so philanthropic and humane an object. 

But to begin with his perversion of truth ; the writer of this 
work says that "The city of Vera Cruz is well planned, sur- 
rounded by an adohe wall, with wide streets, crossing each 
other at right angles." That the city is "well planned," with 
wide and convenient streets, is a fact which very few persons 
would pretend to dispute ; but that the walls and fortifications 
around the city are constructed entirely of adohe, or unburnt 
bricks, I think very many would dispute. Jidohe more particu- 
larly means sod, or tufts of earth and grass, cut from the plains 
or prairies, in the form or shape of bricks, by which temporary 
walls or fortifications are frequently constructed, and are very 
little more durable than an embankment of common earth. 
Now, any one who has visited the city of Vera Cruz, and 
pretends to know any thing at all about its material or con- 
struction, even if he was a very casual observer, would scarcely 
come to the conclusion that the strongly fortified walls by which 
it is surrounded were nothing more than an embankment of 
common earth, or unburnt brick. 

On page 25, he uses the following language: — "Since my 
visit to the city of Vera Cruz, it has felt the force of American 
ire, and withstood a fierce bombardment for several days, with 
what object it is impossible to divine, since acouple of thousand 
men might have, at any time, taken it by assault. The castle 
was not attacked, and was included in the capitulation, without 
being asled for — cosa de Mexico. The town was attacked by 
the American troops under General Scott, within ten months 
after my visit. It suffered a bombardment, as is well known, 
for several days, an unnecessary act of cruelty, in my opinion, 
since, to my knowledge, there were no defences around the city 
which could not have been carried, including the city itself, by a 
couple of battalions of Missotiri volunteers. 1 certainly left 
Vera Cruz under the impression that it was 7iO! a fort if ed place, 
with the exception of the paltry wall I have mentioned, which, 
if my memory serves me, was not even loopholedfor tmisketryJ''' 
What is the use of setting down for the purpose of combating 
seriously such palpable falsehoods and unfounded assertions as 
these ] much less to argue a question with one who has a suf- 
ficiency of bare-faced audacity to assert that "the city of Vera 
Cruz is not a fortified place," and that its strongest defences 
could have been carried by a couple of battalions of Missouri 
volunteers, when General Scott found it necessary to employ 



IN MEXICO. 41 

fourteen thousand men, for fitleen days, in order to ensure its 
reduction and consequent capitulation. 

It would be quite unnecessary now tor me to speak of the 
height and thickness of the walls of the city, or the material ot 
which they are composed, or even the number of torts by which 
those walls are defended, as I have spoken of them at large in a 
previous chapter of this work. That the walls are " loopholed 
for musketry," every body knows who is blessed with the ordi- 
nary degree of vision, and has been within musket range ot 
the gates of the city. Mr. Ruxton must have an infinitely 
higher opinion of the courage and discipline of " Missouri vol- 
unteers," than he does of those of his own countrymen, for it 
must be conceded by all who have a proper regard for truth, 
and whose minds and judgments are not Inassed by prejudice, 
that the position of General Morales at Vera Cruz was much 
safer, stronger, and more tenable, than was that of General 
Jackson at New-Orleans ; and it required fourteen thousand 
picked men, composing the flower and pride of the British 
army, with the cost of a signal defeat, and the loss of twelve 
hundred men, besides three Generals, to make even a formida- 
ble attempt at taking his works by assault. 

Bat the strongest case of hallucination on record, seems to 
me to be, that Mr. Ruxton, or any other man possessing ordi- 
nary capacities of discernment, should actually pass the gates 
of the city, which are all protected by forts one on either side, 
and reside for any time within its precincts, and then go away 
" under the impression that it was not a fortified placc.^'' I am 
clearly of the opinion that it would be utterly impossible to find 
a city in the world of the size and population of Vera Cruz, 
whose military defences, in every point of view, are superior 
to it. Is it not reasonable to suppose that Mr. Giffbrd, the 
British Consul residing at Vera Cruz, thought it was ^fortijied 
place, when his confidence in the protection which its works 
would aflbrd him and his flimily was so strong and satisfactory, 
that he considered himself in no danger whatever within its 
walls, and, with the rest of the neutrals, actually refused to pass 
out to a place of safety, when the opportunity was offered him 
by the American commander ? Besides the strong stone wall 
by which the city is completely surrounded, and the number 
and strength of the forts by which it is protected on all sides, 
it is placed under the immediate cover of four hundred pieces 
of artillery, which are frov* ning down upon it, in proud defiance 
from the impregnable walls of the renowned castle. 

But this new and wonderful discovery has been kindl}^ re- 
served by some secret and unknown agency, to swell the already 



42 scott's campaign 

world-wide notoriety of George F. Ruxton, whose profound 
historical research, and inventive and scrutinizing genius, have 
astonished the world vv'ith the startling tact, which has been hid 
from its gaze for more than three centuries, that " the city of 
Vera Cruz is not a fortified place.''' 

But hear again what this distinguished chronicler of events 
.says of the castle of San Juan de Ulloa ; he says: — " T/<fi 
castle could have been tali-en by a frigate's boarders, having but 
seven hundred naked Indians to defend ii." It is universally 
conceded that this is the strongest furtitication in the world, and 
has been pronounced impregnable to artillery by some of the 
first engineers of the age ; and yet Mr. Ruxton conceives it to 
be project entirely practicable l()r a '•'■frigate^s boarders " to 
carry it by assault. It is generally allowed that the Mexicans 
have good engineers, and that they have proved themselves to 
be capable of managing artillery as well as these of other 
nations whose military resources are not superior to those of 
her own. Allowing this to be the case, and judging from the 
num])er and weight of the guns which it mounts, it would be 
quite a reasonable conclusion to suppose that the castle of San 
Juan de Ulloa possesses the means, in their fullest extent, of 
sinking every ship in the British navy in forty-eight hours, if 
they were placed within rangeof its guns, many of which are 
ninety-eight pounders. As to the ^^ seven hundred naked In- 
dians " who are said by our author to man the guns and garrison 
the castle, I would venture the assertion that more than three 
times that number of picked and well-disciplined troops are 
always stationed within its walls and trained and drilled tor the 
defence of that particular point. The circumstance of their 
being Indians, would, I should think, matter very little, as Indi- 
ans very often light as biavely as white men, as they did, for 
instance, at the battle of Monongnhala, to the truth of which, I 
would supjjose that the red coats under General Braddock could 
very Ave 11 testify. 

Mr. Ruxton says that "the castle was not attacled, and was 
included in tlie capitulation without being asked for J' I would 
just expose the falsehood of this latter assertion by giving a 
short quotation from the instructions given by (jeneral Scott to 
the American Commissioners who were appointed to treat of 
the general surrender. The fiiliowing is the 8ih and last 
article of those instructions : "If the Mexican Commissioners 
decline, from the want of power or authority, to treat of the 
surrender of the castle of San Juan de Ulloa, the American 
Commissioners will urge the former to ask for such powers, 
and grant any necessary delay to that end ; but if such power 



IN MEXICO. 43 

])e not asked for, or be not, on application, obtained, the Ameri- 
can Commissioners may, hesitatingly, consent to refer the 
subject back to the midersigned for further instructions to meet 
that state ol'thiiiss." 

The sole object of the author of the work in question must 
1)6 obvious to the most cursory reader, which is, to underrate 
the prowess of the American arms, by attempting to show the 
martial imbecility of their vanquished foes. One would think 
that the mother country, with the proper feelings of parental 
atiection, would rather indulge in a laudable spirit of family 
pride, than of envious jealousy, at the growing povrcr and 
greatness of her Anglo-Saxon descendants. But some how or 
other, England could never bear to hear of a victory gained by 
the American arms since the battle of New Orleans ; that was 
the crisis that made her or undone her quite, as far as a parental 
regard for her ofTspring was concerned. 

Taking the English people in the aggregate, and upon sub- 
jects where their jealousy is not likely to become excited, and 
they adhere as closely to the truth, and exhibit as high a regard 
for veracity, as any people in the world ; but the fact has long 
since been estabfished, that it is next to impossible tor English 
writers to do justice to American history, or anything that has 
th^ most remote bearing upon it. It may be more of a misfor- 
tune than a fault ; more an error of the head than the heart, but 
it seems to be utterly out of the line of business which writers 
of the John Bull stamp have heretoibre prescribed for them- 
selves, to speak of any thing American, and, at the same time, 
confine themselves strictly within the limits of historical truth. 

Mr. Ruxton thought, no doubt, that if he could make the 
world believe that the city of Vera Cruz was nothing more 
than a mud fort, and that the castle was a mere slaughter pen, 
ready to tumide down at the first appearance of a dozen gun 
boats, and totally incapable of resisting the attack of a '■'■ frigate^ s 
boartlei-s" that he would thereby prove most conclusively the 
total inefficiency of the American arms, and snatch the well- 
earned laurels from the victorious and invincible Scott, which a 
nation's gratitude, and the world's applause have woven so 
thickly about his honored and manly brow. But the highest 
efibrts of the towering genius of our author, must inevitably 
prove powerless and unavailing ; for Major General Winfield 
Scott will continue to stand upon that proud eminence which 
his skill and valor has won, the glorious hero of two wars, 
when the name of Wellington shall have faded from the tablet 
of fame. 



44 scott's CAMPAieif 



CHAPTER VI. 

The investment of the city of Vera Cruz having been closed 
by the surrender of the garrison, it was now determined by the 
Commander-in-Chief to march directly, and with the least 
possible delay, against the town of Alvarado, which he had 
designated as the next point of attack. This town, or city, is 
situated about sixty miles below Vera Cruz, on a navigable 
river of the same name, and about one mile from its mouth, 
W'here it empties into the (lulf. Alvarado is a regularly built 
town, of rather a dingy and ancient appearance ; the streets are 
wide, well paved with round stones, and quite commodious, and 
cross each other at right angles ; and it may probably contain 
as many as five thousand inhabitants. 

The situation of the city is very low and level ; to look at it, 
you would thin'A it was lower than the waters of the Gulf; it is 
certainly very sickly ; I should judge that no foreigner could 
live there with safety at any season of the year. It is infested 
with swarms of musketoes, sand flies, and gnats, which swarm 
around one at night in such a manner that it is impossible to 
sleep in an exposed situation. I rolled myself in my blanket, 
covering head and feet, but still it did not save me from their 
annoying attacks, and I arose in the morning without having 
slept. This is a well fortified city, and is prepared to resist, 
with much success, an attack, either by land or water; some 
of the finest brass pieces I ever saw were captured at this 
place on a fort above the city. 

It had been determined that this city should be attacked by 
land and water, simultaneously ; the land forces under General 
Quitman, and the fleet under Commodore Perry. The Georgia, 
Alabama and South Carolina regiments, composing General 
Quitman's brigade, were ordered to take up the line of march 
lor Alvarado, about 4 o'clock on the afternoon of the 80th of 
March. After a very fatigueing march of several hours along 
the sandy beach, we arrived at a small village, situated on the 
banks of a stream of toleraVjly fresh water, about 9 o'clock at 
night. Here we were halted for the night, and pitched our 
camp, (I was going to say our tents, but we had none,) and 
with a blanket each, we made our beds upon the green banks 
of the river, and slept soundly and sweetly, as though we 
were reposing upon beds of down. We Jiastily cooked our 
scanty morsel, and after as hastily despatching it, sunk down 



IN MEXICO. 45 

upon the green swai"d around our camp fires, completely ex- 
hausted, and were soon locked in the refreshing embraces of 
"tired nature's sweet restorer, balmy sleep," and dreaming of 
the coming fight, or, perchance, of home and friends. 

This is quite a small town or village, containing not more 
than fifty or sixty houses, built of stakes and vines, and covered 
with leaves of the palm or palmetto; and yet it contained a 
splendid church, which must have cost several thousand dollars ; 
in fact, you will scarcely find a dozen houses together any where 
in Mexico, without a church, and a fine one too. The dews on 
the Ijeach at night are very heavy, so much so, that one not 
accustomed to them would think that he had been exposed 
during the night to a shower of rain ; and it is considered by 
the natives to be very unwholesome, if not certain death, to 
sleep in the open air on that account. 

When reveille beat next morning at day-light, our camp was 
all in motion, and before sun-rise, our breakfast was cooked 
and despatched, which consisted of a tin cup of coffee and a 
cracker, and the line of march was formed, and all in readiness 
to move. After replenishing our canteens with the best water 
we could find, which was quite brackish, and husbanding, with 
much care, our scanty stock of pork and crackers, we proceeded 
to cross the river on a bridge of coats, (the first case of the 
kind on record since Xerxes crossed the Hellespont,) it being 
only a short distance from its mouth, and the back water from 
the Gulf made it quite deep and wide. The morning was 
bright and clear, and the sun was already pouring down his 
heating rays upon us, Mhileour tiresome and exhausting march 
led us along the hot and scorching sands of the beach for some 
seven or eight miles, and then diverged to the right, leading up 
a deep ravine, studded on all sides with the most beautiful trees 
and shrubbery for several miles, when we entered a large and 
extensive prairie. Here the road was firm and level, and 
appeared to be formed of a kind of cement, with a hard smooth 
surface, which made the contrast very striking and pleasant 
between it and the hot sandy beach, although it was very severe 
on our bruised and blistered feet. 

We wound our tortuous way far into the bosom of this appa- 
rently Ijoundless prairie, until wc lost sight of every tree and 
shrub, and nothing presented itself to our view but one vast, 
level, shrubless plain, covered with a species of coarse grass, 
and grazing herds of wild cattle. Although exhausted with 
fatigue, and almost famished for want of water, still the officers 
urged us on our tired course, tottering with feeble limb beneath 
our loads, till the sun went down, and "up rose the yellow 



46 scott's campaign 

moon," and then we thought surely our long and tedious day's 
march was about to end ; but no, we were compelled to reach 
water, and none has yet appeared ; and the word was still 
"onward, boys, onward." 

If I had not been so tired and thirsty, I could certainly have 
enjoyed the beautiful scene that surrounded us on all sides; I 
think there are very few scenes in nature that can surpass, in 
grandeur and sublimity, moonlight upon a prairie. After night 
I passed scores of soldiers lying by the road-side, completely 
exhausted fiom thirst and fitigue, who had sunk down to rest 
upon their arms, and recruit the flagging energies of exhausted 
nature: and notwithstanding the danger of falling into the 
hands of the prowling bands of guerrillas that we had every 
reason to believe wei'c hanging upon our rear, many of those 
that stopped by the way passed the night alone upon the prairie, 
and did not reach the camp until the next morning. Al>out 9 
o'clock at night v/e reached a pond of warm muddy water, a 
mere mud hole; and as it was the first we had seen since we 
entered the prairie, there was a general rush made for this 
" spring in the desert," and in a few moments it v/as completely 
filled with men, horses, and mules, all splashing and floundering 
in the most splendid confusion. And before one half the men 
could slake their thirst, or fill their canteens, the warm and 
stagnant water was perfectly thick v.'ith mud, so much so, that 
the horses which came up last, although nearly famished from 
thirst, positively refused to drink it. And this was the kind of 
water that three regiments had to quench their raging thirst 
with, and use for the purpose of cooking. I well remember 
trying to make some coffee with it, but I was never able to 
color the water, or make it so strong that the taste of the mud 
would not predominate. 

On the grassy banks of this lakelet, we kindled our camp 
fires, and cooked our hasty suppers, Avhich consisted of salt 
pork and crackers, and which only had a tendency to increase 
our thirst. As for coflee, it was out of the question, as we all 
found it impossible to make it in any way that it could be drank, 
from the quality of the water we had. Many of the men sank 
down upon the very spot where they were first halted, and slept 
through the night, without even attempting to procure food or 
water ; so great v>^as their exhaustion, that sleep instantly pre- 
dominated the moment they were still, and tired nature forgot 
its accustomed wants in the dreamy regions of the spirit land. 
After a wakeful and troubled sleep of a few hours, the drum 
avv'oke us from our grassy beds, and the dawning of the mor- 
row's light found us again in motion, and urging our devious 



IN 3IEXICO. 



47 



Way through the trackless prairie, with swollen and blisteied 
feet, marking the ground with l)lood. We filled our canteens 
with muddy water, which had become a little more cool during 
the night, and with a few stale Ijits ot* pilot bread in our haver- 
sacks, we again took up the line of march, and moved off' in solid 
columns, with our guns all in order, as our officers had put us on 
our guard by telling us that an attack was expected sometime 
dering the day, upon the rear of our column, as evidences had 
appeared through the night which led them to this conclusion. 
We marched on, sweating and groaning beneath our loads, 
and scorched by the heating rays of a tropical sun. until the 
water in our canteens was completely exhausted, and we were 
on the look out for another pond, as running streams in such a 
country as that were completely out of the question, and no body 
either looked for or expected them. 

Just as our thirst was at its highest pitch, and our straining 
eyes had swept the burning plains as far as the powers of 
vision could extend, in search of some cooling lake, some green 
oasis of the desert, and all hopes of imm.'^diate relief had van- 
ished, the sudden cry of "a lake !" a lake!" pealed forth its 
glad notes upon the ears of the fiimished, and fast failing ranks, 
and ran with electric rapidity along the far extending lines. I 
looked :.nd saw what I conceived to be a most beautiful lake of 
clear w.qter, skirted with herbage and small trees, and large 
herds of wild cattle grazing upon its margin, and I could dis- 
tinctly see their images mirrored upon its clear bright bosom. 
The distance appeared to be not exceeding half a mile, and 
several horsemen left the columns and struck oft' at a brisk 
gallop, expecting in a few moments to be able to slake their 
thirst with cooling draughts of nature's satisfying beverage, fill 
their canteens, and return to the lines again ; and large numbers 
of soldiers left the ranks, contrdrij to orders, and hastened with 
eager speed towards the tempting spot, the refreshing fountain 
of the desert, Avhich was flxr more to be desired than the youth- 
restoiing spring found by Ponce De Leon, after a weary pil- 
grimage of many years. But the fleetest were never able to 
reach it; and the weary soldier turned back with his thirst only 
aggravated by the race ; like the base of the rainbow, it seemed 
to flee at their approach, until they were perfectly exhausted 
and gave up in despair. The fact is, it was not a lake, l)ut one 
of those fanciful illusions which seem to be made for no other 
purpose than to lure the thirsty tiaveller from his arid track, for 
the purpose of templing his raging thirst, and tantalizing his 
parched lip, by cheating him with vain hopes, and then loosing 
him upon the trackless wilds of the boundless prairie. This 



48 scott's campaign 

optical illusion, or image ot water, is called a Mirage, and is 
produced by a refraction of the atmosphere, or of the rays of 
light falling upon it, and is generally found on prairies and in 
low level places where water would most likely be found, but 
always in places where it is not; and when you see a Mirage, 
and know it to be one, you may rest assured there is no water 
in the vicinity. 

In the afternoon of this day, we reached another pond of 
water, but it was very little better than the one which we had 
left in the morning; it was perhaps a little more clear, and had 
the advantage of being skirted with green shrubbery, which 
afforded us a slight protection against the scorching rays of the 
sun. I noticed that many of the men, on drinking large drafts 
of this water, would become deathly sick, and vomit it up ; 
General Quitman tried to comfort us by telling the men that he 
had lived for several weeks at a time on worse water than this, 
but 1 scarcely believed it, for I saw a dead alligator in the pond 
where the men were drinking. 

We were permitted to rest here but a very short time, but 
was hurried on, in hopes of reaching some better water before 
night, but disappointment awaited our hopes. We were pushed 
forward on a forced march till near sun-down, when we reached 
a beautiful palmetto grove near the beach, but not a drop of 
water was to be found, and as we were unable to march any 
further, we pitched our camp and stopped tor the night. As a 
last resort, we commenced digging holes near the beach, which 
we extended to a sufficient depth to allow the water to rise in 
the bottom, which was nothing more than the salt water drained 
through the sand. Our camp to-night was on one of the most 
beautiful and romantic spots 1 ever saw. Our march in the 
afternoon had led us over that portion of the prairie which is 
converted into a marsh in the rainy season, but it is now per- 
fectly dry, and broken into small clods of a dark blue color, 
somewhat resembling indigo; while the whole surface was 
covered with a luxuriant growth of tall coarse grass, which 
extended over thousands of acres, relieving the eye, and giving 
the whole panorama a mosfr beautiful and lovely appearance. 
Just on the margin of this prairie, and immediately connecting 
it with the beach, is the beautiful palmetto grove above men- 
tioned, extending as far as the eye can reach, and beneath 
whose towering and gigantic branches, we refreshed ourselves 
and rested our wearied limbs. 

By this time our rations of salt pork were exhausted, which 
we had, until now, carried in our haversacks, and as the Com- 
missary was under strict orders to issue no more rations till we 



IN MEXICO. 49 

arrived at Alvarado, we had to resort to any means within our 
reach to obtain supplies, which had heretofore barely been 
sufficient to sustain exhausted nature. Several private scouting 
parties were soon out upon the prairie looking for cattle, which 
they intended to convert into beef at the sliortest possible notice, 
provided they could bring them within musket range, notwith- 
standing positive orders had been extended to all the men, not 
to fire upon a single cow, bull, ox, sheep, or goat, during the 
march. But necessity knows no law, and we were all hungry 
as grayhounds, and in for a mess of beef, and we were deter- 
mined to have it, let it cost what it might. And although there 
were secret guards sent round to the different company quarters, 
for the purpose of enibrcing orders, and detecting and punishing 
the disobedient, yet, in spite of their vigilance, beeves were 
killed upon the prairie, and portions, sufficient for present pur- 
poses, were smuggled into camp, and we built our fires of pal- 
metto leaves, and cooked and eat till we were satisfied, and 
then made our beds upon the long prairie grass beneath the 
tall palmetto trees, and laying our heads upon our cartridge 
boxes, slept soundly till morning. 

Dining the night, the water rose to a considerable depth in 
the holes or little wells v.'e had dug on the beach the evening 
before, and in the morning we were able to fill our canteens 
with water, only ordinarily salt and brackish. It was hard to 
tell which was its predominating quality, to quench or excite 
thirst; and by twelve o'ciock, the scorching rays of the sun 
shining upon our canteens, had heated it to that extent that it 
would almost scald our lips i!i attempting to drink it. Our 
course again lay along the sandy beach, close upon the water's 
edge, so near that an occasional Avave would break at our feet 
and fill our shoes with water; and then again em- route would 
lead us further from the water, and inio the deep burning sand, 
which seemed to be heated seven times hotter than usual, and 
scorching our swollen teet into blisters. The most of this 
day's march was performed M'ithout bread or water, as we had 
drawn no rations since we left Vera Cruz, and the last crumb 
in our haversacks had been consumed for breakfast that morn- 
ing. But our sufferings and privations, severe as they had 
been, were destined to undergo a temporary suspension, for the 
space of a few days at least, for about 4 o'clock on the afternoon 
of Friday, the 2d of April, we reached the suburbs of the town 
of Alvarado, entered it without opposition, and took up our 
quarters in some vacant buildings near the plaza, where we 
rested for the night, as well as the fleas, musquitoes, and sand 
flies would permit us, and arose in the morning somewhat 
3 



50 SCOTT 8 CAMPAIGN 

refreshed and invigorated, and spent, quite a pleasant day in 
rambling over the town. Many ot" the citizens, on hearing of 
our approach, had fled to the country, leaving their homes to the 
mercy of their enemies, but enough were left to give us a 
hearty welcome, and tender up the hospitalities of the city. 

The Senoras and Senoritas, as is the case all over Mexico, 
were particularly kind and polite to us, bringing us bread and 
fruit, and relieving our wants in every possible way. 1 know 
that kindness and sympathy for the afflicted and distressed are 
striking and prominent traits in the character of woman the 
world over; and it has been said, that wherever suffering 
humanity can find a woman, it is sure to llnd a friend and com- 
forter, one that will hover about the restless couch of pain, and 
bathe'the fevered brow with the tears of sympathizing afiection ; 
but I have been led to think, that, in many of the kind and 
tender feelings of the human heart; in the spontaneous out- 
pouring of a soul full of the milk of human kindness, that the 
Mexican ladies excelled those of all other countries. As soon 
as the line of march was dismissed, and our quarters assigned 
us, we all (at least those who had any money) struck off at 
tangents into every part of the city, in search of cook shops, 
fondas, and coffee houses. I, in company with two or three 
others, v\andered down a back street leadingtowards the river ; 
we had not passed more than two blocks before our attention was 
attracted to a low dingey building, where an old woman and 
several young girls were employed in making chocolate, chili 
soup, and pandamice. We immediately walked in, and asked 
them if they could furnish us with supper; the old lady, after 
scrutinizing us for a moment, replied, "se Senior jmcofrmpo," 
(yes, sir, in a short time). We waited patiently till all things 
were in readiness, and then took our seats at the table, Avhere 
we despatched a most excellent supper, while having our cups 
re-filled, and hot cakes brought us by one of the aforesaid young 
girls, and who, by the bye, was a perfect paragon of beauty, 
untramelled ])y art, unadoriied by fashion, a child of nature, 
possessing all the loveliness of unconscious and original l)eauty. 
And this, kind reader, was -"The Baker Girl of Alvarado," 
whom I afterwards attempted to immortalize in song, and actu- 
ally, pcrpetra'ed a piece of poetry, "meant for the moving 
messenger of love," set to the tune of "Johnson's Wife of 
Louisiana," and which, I was vain enough to think, would look 
tolerably well in 'print, so I carefully enveloped it, and started 
it for the States, but I suppose it was lost upon the Gulf, as 1 
never could hear of its having reached the " White Settle- 
ments." 



IN 3IEXIC0. 51 

I visited the family several times during our slay m the city, 
and never failed to receive some acts of kindness, at every 
visit; but that which 1 esteemed above all others, were the 
smiles of the <" Baker Girl," and which f never fisiled to receive 
as often as 1 called. I regretted very much that our stay at 
Alvarado was not sufficiently long to allow me to form any 
thing like an intimate acquaintance with any of the citizens, 
but I made the best use of the time that I could, and found con- 
genial spirits, even tliere, that will not soon be f()rgotten. 

It may not l)e amiss, just here, to transcribe a few paragraphs 
from the pages of "Kendalls Santa Fc Expedition," which 
may have a tendency to corroborate the sentime:its that I have 
just advanced. He says ; — "The custom of throwing the left 
arm aroynd each other, while the right hands are clasped as 
with us, is common, I believe, all over Mexico, alike when two 
men, or two women, meet, or two of the opposite sexes Vv'ho are 
well acquainted ; and perhaps this cordial mode of reception 
from the females of the country, may be considered as one of 
the strongest of those ties whicli certainly bind the Americans 
and English to the land of Montezuma. The cold and phleg- 
matic Anglo-Saxon, after a residence of some year or two in 
Mexico, leaves it with regret; for there is a grace and ease, a 
fascination, and a cordiality of greeting among the senoritas of 
that country which cannot be forgotten. 

" The American or Englishman reflects upon the stiffness and 
restraint imposed upon the actions of his fair countrywomen, by 
cold, conventional rules — he remembers the distant bow, the 
formal shake of the hand, with which he will be greeted on his 
return, and contrasts them with his daily salutations from the 
dark-eyed daughters of the sunny land in which he is sojoiu'n- 
ing. The result is altogether in favor of the latter. It is 
indeed a delightful thing to be ever greeted with the most 
cordial freedom, when we know that tkat freedom is entirely 
removed from forwardness — to have the person jfncircled by 
arms which are faultless in form — and a man feels that it is 
difficult to tear himself away from a people whose manners, in 
their daily intercourse, are in every respect more full of warmth 
and kindness than those of his own countrymen and country- 
women, too; for v.'hile even the men arc not wanting in natural 
and easy politeness, the Mexican senoras have a frankness of 
deportment, a kindness and singleness of disposition, which 
captivate the natives of colder climes, and frequently did I 
meet with countrymen whose love for their father-land had 
become completely estranged by the fascinatieiis of female 
society in Mexico. The women of that country, when married 



52 SCOTT 8 GAMFAICIf 

to any of the Anglo-Saxon race, have the reputation of making 
the best and most affectionate wives ; and scattered through 
Mexico may be found innumerable instances where foreigners, 
induced by no other motives than the superior charms and 
excellent domestic endowments of the women, have settled 
permanently and are rearing families." 

We found, on our arrival at Alvarado, very much to the 
disappointment and chagrin of General Quitman, and Commo- 
dore Perry, who had hoped to 1)0 able, in this event, to add 
another leaf to the chaplet of military fame that already encir- 
cled their honored brows, that the town had surrendered some 
two days before to Lieutenant Hunter, of the Navy, and that 
he had now gone up the river for the purpose of demanding the 
surrender of ajiother small town, the name of which I do not 
now remember. It Mill be remembered by the reader, that an 
abortive attcmr.t was made by Commodore Connor, some 
months before, to take this same town of Alvarado, which he 
found it convenient to leave, without accomplishing his object; 
and for which, perhaps, there was some l)lame attached to him. 
And now Lieutenant Hunter is to be dismissed and sent home, 
lor being guilty of the simple crime of doing what Commodore 
Connor could not do, or what, at least, he did not do. This, at 
first view, would have somewhat the appearance of inconsis- 
tency, and look like rather a strange course of proceeding; but 
when all the circumstances are considered, it will appear that 
"the head and front of his oflending" was that he acted with- 
out orders, and thereby incurred the displeasure of his superior 
officers. He appears to have been sent to Alvarado, not to 
take the town, or even to fire upon it, but to watch the garrison 
and citizens, and keep them from running away, until Quitman 
and Perry could get there to whip them, and then it would be 
said in the army, and published in the papers, that they had done 
what Commodore Connor could not do, or, at least, what he, 
after a pretty fair trial, hau failed to do. 

Lieutenant Hunter was court-martialed, suspended, and sent 
home under censure. Immediately after his arrival, his fellow- 
citizens gave him a dinner, and voted him a sword, and the 
Department finally restored him his commission, and appointed 
him to a different field of service ; and thus ended the case of 
Lieutenant Hunter, charged with disobedience of orders. 
Commodore Connor was superceded and sent home about the 
time of the investment of Vera Cruz, for what cause I know 
not ; it might have been because he could not take Alvarado, or 
he might have whispered to some one that the castle of San 
Juan de Ulloa was impregnable, and never could be reduced by 



IN MEXICO. 53 

a naval force ; but all this is only vague con ectiire, and he 
might have been sent home for no offence at al , only to repose 
otium cum dignitate upon his well earned 1-: urels, and give 
place for another distinguished officer to win sc.nc on the same 
theatre of action. But it matters not now, "or Alvarado is 
taken, and the keys are in the pocket of Lie itenant Hunter, 
and he most undoubtably wears the laurels ofth.it achievement, 
and will, in spite of the world. And this is th ' secret of that 
long and famishing march of Quitman's brig ide, the forlorn 
hope of the army, and which resulted in nothin ( but the loss of 
many valuable lives, and the total physical protiration of those 
that survived it. But "the most uukindest cut cfall " was, that 
it deprived them of participating in (he dange s, and sharing 
the honors, of the glorious and well fought jattle of Cerro 
Gordo. 

We left Alvarado, on our return march, at qui.e an early hour 
on Sunday, the 4th, and reached Vera Cruz, by another forced 
march, on the afternoon of Tuesday, the 6th of April, and which 
would have given us ample time, had we been able to have 
marched immediately on, to have reached Cerro Gordo several 
days before the fight ; but so total was the physical prostration 
of both man and beast, that it was found impossible to move 
forward to any advantage till the morning of the 18th, which 
was the very day on which the main battle was fought. And I 
feel very confident that if our brigade had been present, and 
placed in the fi-ont ranks of that bloody battle, exposed to the 
whole line of Mexican batteries, that it would not have suffered 
half the loss that it finally did from the effects of that eight 
days march to and from Alvarado. 

About 8 o'clock on the morning of Sunday, the 18th, our 
brigade left the city of Vera Cruz, and took up the line of march 
towards Plan del Rio, which we then supposed to be the 
quarters of the advance of our army under General Twiggs ; 
and our hopes were still high that we would yet be enabled, by 
a forced march, to reach Cerro (iordo in time to "have a place 
in the picture," but we were disappointed in a fight at Alvarado, 
and the same fate awaited our too sanguine expectations in the 
present instance. For on the night succeeding the day of our 
start from Vera Cruz, while we were encamped on the banks 
of the Antigua river, some eighteen miles from the beach, the 
news of the result of the battle of Cerro Gordo reached our 
camp through a courier. We th^sn felt confident that the ball 
was danced out without giving Quitman and his men any 
showing whatever; so we rose up as one man, wrapped our 
martial blankets about us (which is the finishing touch of the 
3* 



54 scott's campaign 

soldier's toilet) and gave three cheers for General Scott and the 
Yankees, and then sunk l^ack to our slumbers again and 
dreamed of be iter days and happier hours "when the battle's 
lost and won.' 

On the 9th, General Twiggs left Vera Cruz with his divi- 
sion of regulars for Plan del Rio, in the vicinity of which place 
information had been received that General Santa Anna was 
conrentniting his force in great numbers, for the purpose of 
cutting off the advance of the American army towards the city 
of Mexico. A few days after the departure of Twiggs, General 
Worth, with las division, accompanied by the Commander-in- 
Chief, left for the same point of destination, with the intention of 
concentrating a sufficient force in the vicinity of the Mexican 
chief, to give him a specimen of Yankee chivalry on a small scale, 
at whatever place, or against whatever odds, they might meet 
him. It v/as reported that his army numbered from ten to 
fifteen thousand men, composed of the flower of the Mexican 
army, mofit of whom "had seen service," and knowing as we 
did that the . trong mountain passes would afford him almost 
every advant: ge that could be desired, we were all anxiously 
looking forward to the bloody and thrilling scenes of an obstinate 
and hard fought battle. 

Both pai'ties regarded the present position of the Mexican 
army as a key to the city of Mexico, and if victory should again 
perch upon tha banner of the stars, that we might already, in 
anticipation, conceive ourselves to be "revelling in the Halls 
of the Moniczumas." Santa Anna himself said, in anticipa- 
tion of a splendid victory, that if General Scott could drive him 
from his present position, that he would give him the keys of 
the capital, avidofierhim a kind and hearty welcome within the 
walls of the ] roud city of the Aztecs. And sure enough did 
the Hero of Chippewa and Lundy's Lane write out his title to 
them in blood on the glorious 18th, when the flower of Ana- 
huac's chivalry quailed and fled before the American eagle. 

The iierra calientes (hot or burning country) which termi- 
nates the lovv^, level, sandy region, extending about fifty miles 
from the beach towards the interior, terminates at Plan del Rio, 
the present camp of the American army. The road is then 
skirted by long ranges of high, rugged and precipitous hills, 
which completely shut in the narrow mountain defiles on all 
sides. The most commanding points of those hills had been 
fortified and garrisoned by the Mexican army, from which they 
felt confident that no earthly power could ever drive them. 
Santa Anna himself boasted that the ruthless invaders of his 
country should find a Thermopyloe in every mountain pass, and 



IN MEXICO. 



55 



that he would water the green grass of the vallies with the 
blood, and fill the ravines with the mangled carcasses of the 
"barbarians of the north." 

General Twiggs, with his division, reached Plan del Rio on 
the 1 1 th, where the advanced guard, composed of a body of 
dragoons under Colonel Harney, encountered and drove from 
the neighboring heights, a large body of the enemy's lancers. 
After which, strong piquets were thrown out, and the division 
encamped on the ground fur the night ; the intention of General 
Twiggs being to cover a recounoisance of the position of the 
enemy's forces on the following day, and, if deemed practicable, 
to make a spirited and etleclive attack upon the whole line of 
his works. It was the original design of General Twiggs to 
have made the general attack at 4 o'clock on the morning of the 
13th, but before that hour, the volunteer brigades of Generals 
Pillow and Shields arrived in camp, but were found unable, 
from long marches and excessive fatigue, to participate with^ 
advantage in the battle at so early a period, on account of 
which, at the earnest solicitation of those volunteer Generals, 
General Twiggs consented to postpone the contemplated attack 
for one day. But during the night of the ISth, arnl while 
(General Twiggs was maturing his plan of operations for the 
succeeding day, an order reached him from Major General 
Patterson, requiring him to suspend all further offensive opera- 
tions until the arrival of the Commander-in-Chief, or until 
further instructed by himself. I would suppose that the recep- 
tion of this order was not very agreeable to the feelings of the 
old veteran, as he might already have anticipated the proud 
distinction of being first in command at that celebrated and well- 
fought battle ; but I think he might be satisfied with the glory 
he won in securing for his command the proud title of '' The 
Ccrro Gordo Division.'" 

(leneral Scott did not come up until the 16th, when he ver- 
bally ordered General Twiggs to organize find push forward his 
line'of operations on the right of the national road, which he 
was enabled to reach, and get in position by 11 o'clock, the^ 
main body of his forces being within seven hundred yards of 
the enemy's works. During the afternoon of the 17th, and 
after Twiggs' line of battle had been formed, he was reinlbrced 
by General Shields' brigade of volunteers, composed of two 
Illinois regiments, commanded by Colonels Baker and Fore-^ 
man, and the New York regiment under Colonel Burnett, all of 
which did efTective service, and won much distinction in the 
bloody work of storming the heights and carrying the enemy's 
works at the point of the bayonet. It appears that, from the 



56 scott's campaign 

sickness of Brigadier General Persifer F. Smith, Colonel Har- 
ney, of the dragoons, was placed in command of the first 
brigade, second division, which took quite an active part in the 
operations against the enemy on the 17th and 18t!i. 

As soon as our heavier pieces had announced, on the morning 
of the 18th, that the ball had opened and eflective operations 
commenced. Colonel Harney, with large reinforcements from 
the 3d and 7th Infantiy, tuh'anced Ids skirmishing parties 
within the very face of the enemy, who stood their ground with 
astonishing firmness under an incessant shower of leaden hail 
which poured in upon them from all sides. Notwithstanding 
the great unevenness of the ground over which this brigade had 
to pass, and the many obstacles to overcome in its onward 
movement, yet it faltered not, but moved firraly and steadily 
forward, in the face of a most galling and destrucfive fire, and 
eventually succeeded in carrying the enemy's works on the 
heights — driving them from their strong positions, and putting 
the force that defended them completely to flight. 

Twiggs' division fought like tried and veteran heroes of an 
hundred battles, standing in the deadly breach, and contending 
against fearful odds, with a detcrminatioji that seemed to 
demand victory or annihilation. The old General himself 
towered before his men like a pillar of fire, raging like a 
wounded lion in sight of his prey, his gray hair floating upon 
the battle's, breeze, v.'hile his voice of thunder sounded along 
the advancing lines, and was heard above the din of battle 
upon every part of the field. His division won their laurels 
well, and at the price of blood, and may they wear them long; 
and e'er the bright garlands of victory shall fade from their 
brows, or one leaf be plucked from the green chaplet of their 
fame, the generous pulsation's of a nation's gratitude must cease 
to beat for her patriotic sons, whose strong arms and brave 
hearts bore her proud banner on to victoi y' high above the iron 
storm where death shots were fdling thick and fast. 

Here the gallant Shields fell at the head of h\s command, 
while fearies.sly leading them on to the charge, pierced through 
the lungs by a grape shot, inflicting a wound which all sup- 
posed to be mortal: but contrary to the expectations of his 
friends, he was kindly spared by a merciiid Providence to be of 
further service to his country, and lead his command to victory 
in several other bloody and well-tbught battles. Most of the 
operations against the enemy of which I have yet spoken, were 
carried on upon the left of the pass, or .Talapa road ; but there 
were many other points where bloody woik was done on that 
day. The first volunteer brigade, under General Pillow, was 



IN MEXICO. 57 

scattering death and dismay among the Mexicans on the right, 
and occasionally showing themselves to their enemies in a 
blaze of fire. The principal ohject of this movement was to 
divert attention from the main attack, which, it was designed, 
should shortly be made upon the enemy's left and rear. A 
storming party, composed of detachments from Pillow's brigade, 
was formed, and placed under the command of Colonel Haskell, 
of the 2d Tennessee regiment, which was designed to operate 
against one of the enemy's principal batteries. The party was 
almost instantly organized and put in motion, and being inspired 
by the fearless and intrepid conduct of their brave and gallant 
commander, and the enthusiastic shouts of the advancing 
columns, the whole detachment moved on with great lirmness, 
under a most galling and well-directed lire of grape and canister, 
which mowed them down b}^ platoons, until within a tew paces 
of the enemy's works, when the lire from a battery of seven 
pieces of artillery became so destructive, and the slaughter so 
great, that they were compelled to retire, which they did in good 
order, leaving almost one-third of their number dead and 
wounded upon the ground. 

Dispositions were immediately made for storming another 
battery by a column under Colonel Wynkoop ; but just as the 
party was put in motion, and the advance commenced, the 
whole line was halted by superior orders, and ordered back to 
the point from whence they had started, as it had just been 
ascertained that the whole line of works on the heights of 
Cerro Gordo had been carried, rendering all fuither demonstra- 
tions against that point altogether useless. 

General Pillow's l)rigade was composed of the first and 
second Tennessee, and the first and second Pennsylvania regi- 
ments of volunteers, witii a detachment of Tennessee horse, 
commanded by Captain Caswell, and Captain Williams' com- 
pany of Kentucky volunteers. It was previously stated that a 
storming party was formed of a detachment from this brigade 
commanded by Colonel Haskell, and designed to operate against 
battery No. 2; but it would, perhaps, be more proper to statie 
that this whole brigade was formed into two distinct storming 
parties, the first of which, and its point of attack, I have already 
designated; the second was commanded by Colonel W^'nkoop, 
and designed to operate against battery No. 1. The first of 
these parties, under Colonel Haskell, made a noble and daunt- 
less efibrt to accomplish the object of their formation, and I am 
free to say, that if any body of men in the world could have 
taken that battery under the same circumstances, that they were 
the very troops of all others to have done it; those who stood 



58 scott's campaign 

the fire of the Black Fort at Monterey, would not be apt to falter 
in the hour of danger, upon the heights of Cerro Gordo. It is, 
however, true that their object was not accomplished, and they 
were compelled to retire before the wasting effects of a mur- 
derous fire of seven pieces of artillery; but not the first particle 
of blame can, in any way, be attached to either officers or 
men, for it was the only movement which could have been 
made, that would have saved that gallant corps fiom utter anni- 
hilation. 

The party under Colonel Wynkoop did not get in position in 
time to act in concert with Colonel Haskell, and before they 
succeeded in gaining the point from whence the assault was to 
have commenced, the fire of the main attack on the enemy's 
left had ceased; after which, it was deemed prudent by the 
commander of the brigade to suspend all further operations 
until the fire should open again, or he should receive further 
instructions from the General in-Chief 

Brigadier General Pillow, in his official report of the opera- 
tions of his brigade, uses the f )llowing language : — " Colonel 
Haskell's assaulting force, composed of his own regiment (2d 
Tennessee foot,) Captain Williams' Kentucky company, and 
Captain Naylor's company ofthe second Pennsylvania regiment, 
being, from the nature of its duties, most exposed to the terrible 
fire ofthe enemy, sustained the shock — both officers and men — • 
wiih a firmness and constancy worthy of high commendation." 

General Pillow was wounded at the foot of the hill by a grape 
shot in the hand or arm, which disabled him, for the time, from 
giving orders, when the command ofthe brigade devolved upon 
Colonel Campbell, who instantly began, with great promptness 
and energy, to make preparations for another attack. 

It was immediately discovered, on the opening of battery No. 
2 upon the assaulting force, that :t mounted more guns than 
was at first anticipated, some of their heaviest pieces having 
been concealed by ihe nature of the ground, and some were 
masked, with a design, on the part of the enemy, of drawing 
our forces into an ambuscade, and rendering their destruction 
more certain. This was not discovered by our troops until 
after the assault had commenced, yet none si'emed to falter, or 
doubt th(Mr final success, or shrink from the perf()rmance of 
their duty, although their ranks were being mowed down with 
fearful effect, and men were falling at every step. The cannon 
balls were ploughing up the ground, and sweeping away the 
chaparrel, in every direction, and literally covered the advanc- 
ing columns with blood and dirt. And yet their course was 
onward, closing up their fast thinning ranks, and treading over 



IN MBXIOO. 59 

the wounded and dying, until they were almost in the very 
throats of the guns; so near that the fire would singe the hair 
of the front ranks; and still they faltered not, even in the very 
jaws of death, and every man was found at his post when the 
retreat was sounded. 

The 2d and 3d infantry, under the ccnimand of Colonels 
Morris and Alexander, bore a gallant and conspicuous part in 
carrving the heights, and was ever among the foremost where 
danger was to be met and glory won. Both those regiments, 
headed by their gallant commanders, fought with a soldier-like 
l)earing, and a determined courage, which seemed to defy the 
fearful odds that were engaged against them, moving steadily 
on, and with an unbroken front, toward the enemy's blazing 
liatteries, like enraced and hungry tigers confid(Mit of tiieir prey. 
It will be remembered that Captain Patten, of the United .States 
ai-rny, the poet-soldier, connnanded company K, of the 2d 
infantry, and had his left hand shot otTby a cannon ball, at the 
head of his company, and while gallantly leading them on to 
victory or death. He wrote a few beautiiul verses in camp the 
night before the battle, which was published in the " American 
Star" and other papers in Mexico, and I believe they were 
copied by some of the papers in this country. Ife is one of the 
sweetest and most pathetic poets of his day, and has written 
several pieces which have ])een pul)llshed in some of the leading 
magazines of this country. I remember reading several pieces 
vv'hich he wrote in the army during the Florida war, which 
were almost inimitable. 

The 4th artillery, commanded l)y Major Gardner, also did 
effectual service, and greatly distinguished themselves in driving 
the enemy from a very strong point on the heights of Cerro 
Gordo. It was also called, under a most galling tire, to cover 
the advance of Captain Taylor's and the mountain howitzer 
batteries, which it did in most gallant style, l)ut with severe 
loss, and then bivouacked for the night of the 17th on the 
heights which their valor had Mon from the enemy during the 
day. On the morning of the 18lh, this regiment was ordered 
to join the 2d infantry, and proceed on the line turning the 
enemy's left; and then, in oliedience to the command of the 
General of division, it passed again under the immediate fire 
of one of the heavy Mexican batteries on the heights, and then 
filed to the right into a ravine. But finding this rather an 
exposed position, its flank being raked by a galling fire of 
grape and canister, it was directed to advance rapidly up the 
heights and join the effective and spirited operations of that 
portion of the army, which it accomplished in fine style, and 



60 Scott's campaign 

with the least possible delay. It finally formed again on the 
height, and passing on towards the Jaiapa road, joined in the 
general pursuit ot" the routed ibrccs towards the city. On the 
morning of the 18th, the Mexican army ^A'as very much aston- 
ished, upon linditig our mountain howitzer batteries opening 
upon their lines from the tops of the surrounding hills, where 
they had never dreamed that artillery of any kind could be 
carried, or even tenable positions tor troops ol)tained. 

The whole plan of attack being adopted, and the precise 
manner of most successfully reducing the enemy's works agreed 
upon, early on the morning of the 18:,h, each division, brigade, 
and regiment, having its separate and distinct duty assigned it, 
our whole ctTective force, consisting of 8,500 men, moved for- 
ward in solid column against the long extended lines of the 
enemy's entrenched positions, and in a very short time the suc- 
cess of our troops was complete, and the victory brilliant and 
decisive. Pillow's brigade assaidtcd the strongly fortified 
points on the right of the enemy's works, and although com- 
pelled to retire, yet the elfects of their movements were crowned 
with the most satisfactory and beneficial results. To Twiggs' 
division was assigned the difficult and dangerous task of storm- 
ing the strong and vital point of Cerro Gordo, piercing the 
centre, and gaining command of all the entrenchments, which 
completelv cut off all chances of support from any quarter. 
C'oloncd Riley's brigade of infantry pushed rapidly on against 
the main body of the enemy, capturing one of their strongest 
positions, and turning their own guns with deadly etiect upon the 
retreating foe, who were now flying in eveiy direction. Shields' 
brigade bravely assaulting the left, carried the rear battery, 
eon.sisting of five guns, on the Jaiapa road, and aided materially 
in completing the final rout of the enemy. 

The vanquished foe was now in fiill retreat, being routed at 
every point, leaving their guns, haggage wagons, and military 
stores, in the possession of the conquerors; while their neglected 
wounded and dead, covered, almost literally, the A\hole crest of 
the hill, and the ravine below. Santa Anna's carriage and 
travelling trunk, together with his military chest, containing a 
large amount of valuable plate, and 22, 000 dollars in .';pecie, 
all fell into the hands of the Americans; and the Old Hero 
himself only saved his precious person by cutting loose a mule 
from his carriage, on which he was enabled, by tight squeezing, 
to make his escape towards Jaiapa. 

Only a small portion of our army remained on the field of 
battle, just a sufficient force to take care of the wounded, and 
guard tlie baggage wagons and military stores ; the balance all 



IN MEXICO. 61 

joining in tho pursuit, which they continued till within a few 
miles of the city of Jalajia, where night overtook them, and the 
troops were called off. The road t"ur twelve miles was literally 
strewed with dead horses, and kill.-d and wounded Mexicans. 
'I'he loss of the enemy in killed and wounded, during the pur- 
suit, was very great; hundreds fell beneath the reeking blades 
of Harney's dragoons, while the sharp-shooters of our advance 
eontinuerl to pick off tho frightened fugitives at every turn, 
'f hus it appears that a small undisciplined army of 8,000 men, 
laljouring under every disadvantage Avhich nature and art 
combined could throw in their wav, met and vanquished a 
liody of 15.000 Mexicans in entrenched positions, and possess- 
ing the invaluable advantages of narrow deliles and mountain 
l)asses. 

Santa Anna himself, after a long succession of defeats, counted 
on certain victory this time; lying securely behind stone u'alls, 
and entrenched on the tops of mountains of steep and difficult 
ascent, and which were considered almost inaccessible to the 
active hunter of the forest; and defended by fifty pieces of heavy 
artillery, he was dreaming of an easy victory, attended with 
the utter rout and discomfiture of the American army. For his 
vanity never permitted him f<)r a moment to think that all the 
military resources of the United States combined could ever 
drive him away from his present strongly fortified position. 

The number of prisoners taken on the field and in the pursuit 
amounted to about 3,000, together with 5,000 stand of arms 
and forty-three pieces of heavy artillery. Our loss in killed and 
wouiuled was 431, of whom sixty-three v»'ere killed. Our loss 
was found to be much heavier than was at first anticipated, 
owing to the deadly effect of the fire from the enemy upon our 
troops in the ravines, and those ascending the sides of the 
mountain. The enemy's loss was estimated at about 1200, and 
it was perhaps much heavier even than that, as a great many of 
the dead were thrown over the precipices, and others of the 
wounded escaped in the chaparrel during the pursuit. 

I had tlie privilege of passing over and surveying this brittle 
ground three da^'s after the fight; and what I saw there had a 
tendency to give me a more correct idea of the horrors of war 
than any thing I had ever read or seen before. Here lay, in 
scattered and terrible confusion, every thine that the mind of 
man can conceive to be connected with the science and practice 
of war — dismounted and battered cannon — broken carriages — 
piles of powder and balls — broken muskets — dead horses and 
mules — caps and coats — legs and arms, and putrid carcasses of 
men torn and mangled by cannon balls, and left, half devoured 



62 SCOTT S CAMPAIOW 

by the beasts and birds of prey ; and the whole paraphernalia of 
war, lying in one mingled and undistingnishable mass, while 
the putrid stench that rose from every hill and valley, caused a 
sickening sensation, and almost rendered the atmosphere insup- 
portable. Here a small cross, formed of two sticks tied 
together, would mark the spot where a Mexican officer had been 
buried ; and hard by lay a poor ranchero, over whom, perliaps, 
a few shovels of dirt had been hastily thrown, with his hands 
and feet still protruding above the earth; while the howl of the 
wolves, and the mournful cries of the jackall, which was hang- 
ing round, eager for their prey, were heard from the adjacent 
hills; and flocks of hungry vultures were hovering near, and 
perching upon every tree and shrub, ready to whet their barbe- 
rous beaks upon the bones of the gallant dead. Here was 
plainly marked out the course of Harney's brigade, the whole 
earth being cut and furrowed willi cannon balls, and the track 
covered with the shattered fragments of broken arms, and torn 
and tattered uniforms, perfectly riddled with balls. 

Santa Anna's forces at this place v.^ere composed of the 
flower and chivalry of the Mexican republic; a large portion 
of them were those who stood the deadly fire of Taylor in the 
bloody gorges of Buena Vista, and heard the fearful whistling 
of Captain Bragg's grape ; and now they had mustered their 
iron-clad battalions, and come, in all the pomp and pride of 
glorious war, to wipe out the stain of an inglorious defeat, and 
strike another and more powerful blow for the honor and safety 
of their country. Among whom was many naval officers, to- 
gether with a large number of the best and most experienced 
artillerists in the republic, many of whom had been trained in 
the schools of Europe. There were also found among the dead 
on the battle field, many of the officers who commanded in the 
garrison at Vera Cruz, and whom General Scott released 
without requiring the usual parole of honor, on account of their 
distinguished gallantry. A young officer of the name of Hal- 
zinger, and a German by birth, who greatly distinguished him- 
self, and won the admiration and applause of the whole army, 
by his daring and brilliant exploits during the siege of Vera 
Cruz, was found and recognized on the field of Cerro Gordo, 
weltering in his blood among the dangerously wounded; he 
received the kind care and attention of our surgeons, but 
whether he ever recovered or not I was never able to learn. 
During the heaviest fire from our batteries, a flag stafi' was shot 
away from one of the Mexican forts, which, when perceived 
by tills young officer, he leaped from the parapet, snatched up 
the fallen standard, and stood upon the walls amid the hottest 



IN MEXICO. 63 

fire, and held it aloft by tlie broken shaft until a new one could 
be procured, and then fijallantly restored it to its proper place- 
It is evideiit that the aflair of Cerro Gordo was one of the 
hardest fought and best contested battles on that line ; and 
*" judging from tlxe strength and numljer of their fortifications, 
and the appearances of general preparation on the field of 
battle, as exhibited after the fight, it was equally evident that it 
was intended by the Mexicans to be the last formidable stand 
they would be able to make on this side of the walls of the city 
of Mexico. In the trenches here, were found, not only the 
rank and file of the regular and irregular army, who were under 
the regular pay of the government, and on whom their officers 
and country had heretofore depended for all the fighting, butihe 
elite of the republic were there found, armed and fighting, side 
by side, with the common soldiers. The priest and the layman — 
the legislator and the lepero — the judire and the criminal — the 
expounder and the violator of the law — all, from the highest 
dignitary of church or state, to the degraded menial who begs 
his scanty morsel in the streets, were there found mingled and 
mixed into one confused and crowded phalanx, and fighting side 
by side in the same ditch, in defence of the honor of their com- 
mon country. 

The padre had left the holy altar, and the lawyer his client — 
and the tailor his Ijoard — and the merchant his desk — and the 
husband his young and loving wife — and the father his chiki — 
and the brother his sister — and the son his mother — and hastily 
buckling on their armon.r, had hurried to the jjattle field, to 
mingle in the deadly strife, and pour out their blood beneath the 
towering eagles of the pride of Anahuac. But it was all in 
vaui — they fought well and long, but they were opposed by 
troops long inured to victory; the stubborn and self-willed 
Anglo-Saxon was there, who would rather die than yield, and 
the tri-colored flag of Castile was doomed to come down before 
the conquering march of the stars and stripes. 

The complete rout of the Mexican army, and its disorderly 
and precipitate flight towards Jalapa, \i'as an index of the 
speedy approach of that period, wiien the daring and impetuous 
sons of the north, the '■'■ Mericanos de los Estadis Unides,^^ 
should repose upon their well-earned laurels in the princely 
halls of the capital of Spanish America, the proud and impe- 
rial city of the Aztecs. The decisive and brilliant victory of 
Cerro (Tordo was crowned with the taking, as prisoners of 
war, of five general officers, several of whom were of great 
distinction, viz: Pinson, Jarrero, La Vega, Noriega, and 
Obando; a sixth, General Vasquez, was killed in defending the 



64 SCOTT S CAMPAIGX 

battery tower, in the rear of the whole Mexican army, the 
capture of which contributed so largely to the final and success- 
lid consummation of the glorious results of the day. 

General Twiggs' division, accompanied by General Shields' 
(now Colonel Baker's) brigade, continued the pursuit of the 
flying enemy, on the afternoon of the 18lh, till they were 
within a few miles of the city of Jalapa, when it was found 
nocessary, after the excessive fatigues and privations of two 
days' hard fighting and marching, to halt the exhausted and 
almost famished troops, for the night, and permit them to repose 
and refresh themselves before entering the city, many of the 
officers having scarcely been out of their saddle for the last 
forty-eight hoiu's. 

It was originally intended by the Commander-in-Chief that 
Twiggs' division should reach the national road above, in time 
to cut off the retreat of the routed fijrcos; but it appears that 
Santa Anna, with Generals Canalizo and Almonte, anticipating 
the results of the day, had escaped by the main road, with some 
six or eight thousand men, some considerable time before the 
heights of Cerro Gordo were carried. But notwithstanding 
the start they had gotten, yet the swift-footed coursers of Har- 
ney's dragoons soon came upon them like a gathering storm, 
bearing upon its wings the missiles of death, scattering de- 
struction and dismay far and wide through their disorganized 
ranks ; giving Santa Anna and his mule a hard race, and M'ould, 
in all probability, have captured tiiem both, but for the well- 
known prudence which is generally observed, on such occa- 
sions, by this "Napoleon of the South," in always being aAw J 
of his men in aret7-eal.. 

"And there lay the steed widi his nostril all wide, 
But through it there rolled not the breath of his pride: 
And the foam of liis gasping lay white on the turf, 
And cold as the spray of the rock-beating surf. 

And there lay the rider, distorted and pale, 
With the dew on his brow nnd the rust on his mail ; 
And the tents were all silent, the banners alone, 
The lances unliftcd, the trumpet unblown." 



CHAPTER VH. 

The following is an extract from the ofiicial report of Major 
General Patterson to the Commander-in-Chief, dated, Jalapa, 
26th April, 1847 : — "After the action of the 18th, as soon as the 



IN MEXICO. 65 

dragoons effected a junction with the main body of the army 
upon the Jalapa road, in obedience, to the instructions received 
on the field tVom Major General Scott, I moved with them as 
rapidly as possible in pursuit of the enemy. At Coral Falso, 
overtaking; Brigadier General Twiggs, I directed him to follow 
on witli his division, part of which was returning. Late in the 
afternoon I arrived at El Eucerro, where the exhausted state of 
the cavalry horses compelled me to remain for the night. Capt. 
Blake, with a squadron of dragoons, continued the pursuit for 
some .miles, and returned with several prisoners. The 2d 
dragoons, under Major Beall, and a company of the first dra- 
goons, under Captain Kearney, exhibited great activity and 
zeal in the pursuit, which was very severe on both horses anri 
men. Colonel Baker lui'i advanced near Encerro, with a small 
portion of Shieldss' brigade, some time previous to my arrival, 
but had retired when the battery of the 2d division of regulars 
was recalled. On the morning of the 19(h, leaving Brigadier 
General Twiggs in command of the infantry and artillery, I 
moved on with the dragoons, and entered Jalapa with ade[)uta- 
tion from its authorities, who had come out to implore protection 
for the inhabitants of the city." 

Thus it appears that the city of Jalapa was entered and taken 
possession of by a detachment of our troops, early on the 
morning of the ioth, although the general rout and retreat from 
Cerro Gordo did not take place till two o'clock on the afternoon 
of the 18th, a distance of nearly twenty-five miles from the 
city. The citizens offered no resistance to the advance of our 
army, although the city is well adapted to the advantages of 
military defences, and the citizens alone, had they rallied to the 
standard of their country, might have formed a force of sufficient 
strength, Avith the advantages of position, to have made a suc- 
cessful stand against almost any force. And besides, it was a 
most admirable ]ioint tor their routed army to have fallen back 
upon, and rallied its disorganized columns for another and more 
desperate stand. But all these favorable circumstances which 
might have been seized upon and turned to advantage by a more 
vigorous and energetic foe, were permitted to pass by, unhii- 
proved, while the United States army was allowed to enter the 
gates and take peaceable and permanent possession of one of 
the finest, healthiest and most eligible cities of the republic. 

Our army was now beyond the roach of the deadly influence 
of the poisonous and pestilential malaria of the t'lprra caUcnte, 
and the Simoon blasts that sweep, as with the besom of death, 
the sickly coasts of Vera Cruz, before which our strong battal- 
ions would have melted away like snow-flakes upon the river. 



66 SCOTT S CAMPAIGN 

It is said tbat the Mexicans depended more for victory upon the 
wasting influence of their climate upon our uninitiated troops, 
than they did upon the power and subduing force of their arms; 
and I have no doubt but tliat it was the intention of Santa Anna, 
in making the decided stand which lie did at Cerro Gordo, to 
drive our army back upon ttie coast, and keep them hemmed in 
there until the vomito had spent its fury among our ranks, and 
accomplished what their heaviest artillery could never effect. 
The following extract from the official report of General Scott 
goes far to show the important results which occurred to our 
army on the victory of (Jerro Gordo, and the occupation, by our 
troops, of the city of Jalapa: — "The moment the tate of the day 
was decided, the cavahy, and Taylor's and Wall's field batte- 
ries, were pushed on towards Jalapa, in advance of the pursuing 
columns of infantry. Twiggs' division and the lirigade of 
Shields, (now under Colonel Baker.) and Major General Pat- 
terson, was sent to take command of them. In the hot pursuit, 
many Mexicans were captured or slain, before our men and 
horses were exhausted by heat and distance. The rout proves 
to have been complete, the retreating army, except a small 
body of cavalry, being dispersed and utterly disorganized. The 
immediate consequences have been, our possession of this im- 
portant city, the abandonment of the woiks and artillery of La 
Hoya, the next formidable pass between Vera Cruz and the 
capital, and the prompt occupation, by Worth's division, of the 
fortress of Perote, (second only to San Juan de Ulloa,) with its 
extensive armament of sixty guns and mortars, and its large 
supplies of mnterlaJ.^^ 

After a sufficient garrison had l)cen stationed in the city for 
its protection, and the citizens and others placed under martial 
law, the main body of the army moved on three miles beyond 
the city, and encamped on a small prairie surrounded by a strong 
stone wall, and near the green banks of a most beautiful stream 
of clear cold water. This stream is large enough for the pur- 
poses of machinery, and on it, near our camp, was a very fine 
cotton factory, built of stone, and somewhat differently con- 
structed from what houses usually are in tliat country, and the 
whole exterior seemed to have been gotten up and finished in a 
more modern style of architecture than Mexican houses gen- 
erally; but the whole secret was clear enough, when Ilearned 
that it was the result of Yankee ingenuity, and that it was built, 
owned and worked by a son of "the land of steady habits." 

The city of Jalapa is about twice as large as Vera Cruz, 
and is constructed more in the style of American cities than 
any other that I saw in Mexico. The houses have slanting 



IN MEXICO. 67 

roofs, and are generally covered with tile, while the houses of 
all the other towns and cities that I saw had flat roofs, com- 
posed of brick and mortar, many of them with parapet walls, 
and loop-holes ior musketry. The windows are of various 
sizes, from uncommonly small to uncommonly large, some of 
them resembling embrasures for cannon, in the walls of a 
bastion fort, and are strongly grated with iron bars. The 
walls of the houses arc generally about four feet thick, and the 
floors are made ef large, bricks, aljout eighteen inches square : 
some of the finer residences have floors of square blocks of 
marble or stone, which are quite neat and durable. The win- 
dow sills are supported by iron bars, which protrude about two 
feet over the street; these are filled v\'i!h parallel rows of flower 
pots, with flowers of every hue, in full bloom during the whole 
year; these are atiendedby the ladies of the family, who spend 
much of their time in the windows looking out into the streets; 
I have seen trees from ten to fifteen feet high growing in these 
flower pots on the window-sill of the second and third story. 
The city of Jalapa is not a walled town, neither is it so regu- 
larly laid out, as Vera Cruz ; the streets are conveniently broad 
and paved Vv'ith stone, crossing each other, not at right angles, 
but in every possible form and direction. Its location com- 
mences in a low level plain, and extends up the ^ide of a tole- 
rai)Iy steep hill, while its position is most romantic indeed, 
being surrounded on all sides, but more particularly on the 
west, with the grandest and most picturesque mountain scenery 
that the world can aflord ; while just beyond the smaller moun- 
tains, and in full view of the city, arises the snowy crest of 
Orizabo, with its virgin. cone bathed in the clouds of heaven. 
It is said to be about twenty miles from the city, but, when 
viewed from some elevated position, does not appear to be more 
than a stone's cast. The market women procure from this 
mountain, snow, mixed with a kind of fine hail, from which they 
make their ice cream, a very good article of which can b>e founil 
in tlie market during the whole year. 

The Cathedral at this place is a splendid and magnificent 
structure, and is said to have been the first church that was 
built by Cortez in Mexico, and if such be the fact, it must be 
rather an ancient edifice. The painting and statuary alone are 
of the richest and most costly style, and must be of immense 
value, apart from the gold and silver vessels and images which 
decorate the whole interior of the building. The floor is com- 
posed of square blocks ot the finest marble, besides a large 
marble vase or fount, containing the Santa Aqua, (holy water,) 
which is placed at the entrance of the inner temple, where 



68 scott's campaign 

each one, as he enters, dips the fore finger of the right hand, 
and crosses himself. The chandeliers of this church are the 
most costly, brilliant and beautiful that I saw in all Mexico ; 
they appeared to be made principally of cut glass, diamonds, 
and precious metals, which made them so bright and dazzling 
that it was painful to the sight to look at them. It is said by 
travellers and historians that the city of Jalapa contains more 
beautiful women, according to the population, than any other 
city in the republic ; and from the result of my own observa- 
tions, which were made dtning a residence of two weeks, I 
should not be disposed to differ from those who are inclined to 
consider this place as the grand emporium of Mexican beauty 
and intelligence. I think I saw some as handsome, richly 
dressed, and fisbionable young ladies here as I ever saw any 
where; and yet there is a kind of indescribable spirituality, an 
ethereal embodiment of all that man has learned to love and 
admire, about their beauty, which beggars all description, and 
defies every attempt at transferring any just conceptions of it 
to paper. To feel it in all its force, you must see it in its un- 
sullied brightness, Ijasking beneath the genial sky of its own 
soft and sunny clime ; you must look upon, and feel, the mild 
subduing beams that burn and glow in a dark and liquid eye — 
the vestal tires of a warm and generous heart — the dawning 
twilight of a soul formed for love. The grand secret of their 
beauty lies in the eye, the voice, and the countenance ; and such 
is its character that you cannot compare it to the In'illiant 
glances, and soul-subduing charms of our own Southern belles ; 
it has its own peculiar characteristics, and seems to stand alone 
in the pround peculiarities of its own inimitable style. 

When you meet a Mexican lady of taste and refinement, 
although you have never seen her before, and may never ex- 
pect to again, yet there is something about her that convinces 
you that she is your friend; and when she addresses you, you 
feel that every feature, eye, lip, countenance, soul, and all are 
speaking; and when she becomes excited or interested with 
either the subject or the object, it is delighttul to see her with 
flashing eye lit up to seraphic brightness, her whole countenance 
beaming with a heavenly smile, and her tiny hands extended 
with all the impassioned gesticulations of an actor. And then 
the voice ! oh, the poetry of music, the combination of sweet 
sounds that lurk in that soft but thrilling voice ! to hear it once, 
you would wish to linger for ever within its seductive influence ; 
it is like the breaking in upon the soul of the expiring echo of 
some stray notes fi-om the well-tuned harps of angel choirs. 
Their figures are not ahvays models of symmetry, nor their 



ITT MEXICO. 69 

features, in every instance, regular or well-formed ; their hands 
are small and beautiful, and so are their feet; they wear silk 
stockings, and satin or morocco slippers of the finest quality; 
the step of the higher classes is rather slow and measured, but 
their carriage is dignified and erect, and their gait easy and 
graceful. Their dress is sometimes plain and neat, l)ut most 
generally it is rich and gaudy in the extreme, very often costing 
as much as several thousand dollars ; they wear no bonnets, 
nor sleeves in their dresses, but cover their heads and arms 
with a rich embroidered silk shawl, which extends over the 
shoulders and almost down to the ground, while the face is 
protected from the sun liy a rich Inced parasol, or a large fan, 
the latter of which they use on almost all occasions. These 
observations have been made, more particularly, with reference 
to the ladies of Jalapa, although there every where prevails a 
striking similarity between the fair portion of the population, a 
kind of national trait, by which a Mexican lady might be known 
in any part of the world; yet my o!)servations of female beauty 
and character at Jalapa were by no means so minute or exten- 
sive as they were at Pueblaand the city of Mexico, consequently 
I shall reserve tor another portion of this work, a fuller and 
more extensive notice of the appearance, dress, manners and 
customs of the different classes of Mexican ladies. 

The city of Jalapa is situated on the confin 's of the tierra 
templada (table land,) about twenty-one miles fiomPlan del Rio, 
which terminates the region of the tierra caUentes (hot coun- 
try) and is about sixty-five miles from Vera Cruz Its position 
is somewhat elevated, and the climate salubrious and healthy, 
while the surrounding country is quite fertile and productive, 
and appears to be in quite an improved state of cultivation lor 
that country. 

Our whole army, excepting Worth's division, encamped near 
this city for two weeks, during which time we suffered very 
much from disease and constant exposure to heaAy rains, as wo 
were entirely without tents, and the rainy season just setting in. 
An order was read at dress ])arade requiring us to build a kind 
of booth or bush arbor, one for every six men, which, by 
spreading our blankets and extra clothes over them, served as 
a partial protection to the sick against the incessant showers 
that poured down upon us almost every afternoon and night, 
while the diarrhoea and measles were making frightful ravages 
amongst us. The cause of our short sojourn at this place was, 
to send back a train of wagons to Vera Cruz f(:)r a supply of 
commissary's stores, and supplies generally, which was now 
found to be too short to enable us to reach Puebla without 



70 scott's campaign 

want, as that city was designed as our next point ofdestination. 
Worth was already at Peroto, sonne two days march in our 
advance, while he had pushed on a portion of his command as 
far as Tepeyahualco, about eighteen miles beyond his present 
position, for the purpose of reconnoitering and procuring sup- 
plies for the balance of the army, which he found it somewhat 
difficult to procure at Perote. The return train from Vera Cruz 
arrived at our camp at Jalapa on the evening of the 5th, and 
on the morning of the 7th of May we were put under marching 
orders, and were on our way towards the capital at quite an 
early hour. 

The Georgia and Alabama, together with several other re- 
giments belonging to the volunteer service, whose terms of 
enlistment had expired, were discharged at this place and sent 
home. They were almost in ecstacies of joj^, and left with 
loud shouts and huzzas for homes and friends, but many of them 
manifested a good deal of feeling at parting with their comrades 
in arms, and shed tears on taking their linal leave of them, as 
they knew that many of those they were leaving l)ehind would 
never live to enjoy the privilege which they then anticipated. 

The greater portion of the lirst day's march from Jalapa led 
over a very rough and winding road; it was up hill all the way, 
and in some places so steep as to be almost impassable with 
wagons. At about 11 o'clock we reached La Hoya, near 
which is the celebrated "Black Pass," or, as it is sometimes 
callec], the "Nine Mile Pass." This place had been strongly 
fortified, and the position Avas naturally as strong and eligible a 
one as that of Cerro Gordo, and had been tbrtitied with almost 
as much care. Two steep and precipitous mountains rise up 
suddenly on each side of the road, on the top of whose craggy 
heights the Mexicans had thrown up their works and planted 
their cannon. This was no doubt intended by Santa Anna as 
a favorable position to fall back upon and rally his foi'ces for a 
more desperate conflict, shoidd he be so unfortunate as to be 
routed at Cerro Gordo, and no place could have been bettei- 
adapted to such a purpose, tor with the advantages of the works 
and arfillery which they possessed, an army of five thousand 
men could have successtully disputed the passiige against thirty 
thousand, unless the position could have been turned by flank- 
ing, and my impression is that such a movement as that could 
not have been effected. Every tree and shrub had been cut 
from the sides of the mountailis, which wholly exposed the road 
for near a mile to the deadly cross fires of both artilhMy and 
musketry, without any chance of returning the fire, scaling the 
heights, or otherwise seriously annoying the hidden foe. 



IN MEXICO. 71 

The works at this pass could not have hoen turned, even if 
they had been tolerably well det'ended, without an immense loss 
to the assaulting f()rce. The hills and mountains appeared to be 
composed of a kind of volcanic formation which had been 
thrown up into huge masses by some mighty convulsion of 
nature, and they were covered with a growth of pine timber 
quite large for that country, but which had heen cut away for 
the purpose of forming breast-works ; and to expose the position 
of the advancing foe, and from every rock and stump the ene- 
my's sharp-shooters could have concealed themselves in perfect 
safety, and poured destruction into our ranks from every side. 
But the Mexican troops were so cut up, and their rout so com- 
plete at Cerro Gordo, that Santa Anna could not, or did not, 
mivke the effort to rally his scattered and panic-stricken forces 
at this point; and the American army was allowed to pass this 
modern Thermopylae unmolested. I saw large numbers of 
cannon lying in the road, which had been dismounted by 
Worth's advance and rolled down the hill. 

Large portions of the road over which we marched on this 
day, had been paved with round stones, but the pavement had 
Vieen torn up and the stones thrown in heaps, in order to impede 
the progress of opposing armies during the recent revolutions 
which almost annually harrass and distract that country. The 
ascent is so steep and rapid, that, had it not been tor the 
winding and tortuous nature of the road, we might have looked 
back from our camp at niglit and have seen the point that we 
had left in the morning, in the valley almost beneath our feet. 
The abrupt nature of this ascent can be better conceived when 
we learn that Perote is near five thousand feet higher than 
Jalapa, though only thirty miles from it. We passed, on this 
day's march, many fine and well cultivated farms, including 
large fields ot corn, beans, wheat, and barley, which appeared 
to be the principal productions of that section of country. 
These fields arc cultivated by large numbers of native Mexican 
slaves, who are overlooked by a driver, who passes through the 
field on horseback, with a large whip in his hand, and does not 
hesitate to administer corporeal punishment with a liberal hand, 
when he may deem it necessary. These assertions might 
rather be calculated to disturb the equanimity of the "Free 
Soil" party in this country, but they are, nevertheless, true. 
Slavery, in every sense of the word, does exist in Mexico, but 
on somewhat a diflerent principle to what it does in this coun- 
try. A tenant or common laborer becomes indebted to the 
proprietor of the estate, and is unable to pay; this debt goes on 
increasing from year to year, perhaps by a course of fradulent 



72 scott's campaign 

condnct on the part, ot the proprietor, and the consequence is, 
that the unfortunate Peon and his famil}' belong to this landed 
proprietor until the debt is liquidated, which frequently does not 
happen during the natural life of the slave, and in that case, the 
bondage is transmitted from sire to son for two and three gene- 
ratious. I saw on this route, the first log house with a plank 
floor and sliingle roof, that I had seen since I left the shores of 
my native land; the last one of the kind which I remember to 
have seen was on a small island near the light-house oft' the bar 
at Mobile, and on seeing this, the latter instantly occurred to my 
mind. The country between Jalapa and Perote appeared to 
be more fertile and heavier timbered, than any I had seen before 
since leaving the coast; some of the trees, which appeared to 
be a small species of the live oak, were seen growing here to 
quite a respectable size, though nothing like so large as in this 
country. The high hills and mountains appeared to be princi- 
pally covered with a stunted growth of pines, with an occasional 
cluster of American aloe or prickley pear, of which there are 
a thousand and one species in Mexico. 

We were hurried on through this long and hot day's march, 
tottering on swoolen and aching limbs beneath our baggage 
and accoutrements, until some time after dark, when we were 
halted for the night at the little town of Las Vigas, about 
twelve miles from Perote, where both men and beast sunk 
down exhausted upon the ground, almost the instant tliey were 
stopped, many of the latter to rise no more, as the ground was 
almost covered the next morning with dead mules and horses. 
Many of the men, completely worn out with fatigue, sunk down 
by the way-side and slept all night, and found their way to 
camp next morning, notwithstanding the constant warning that 
we received that whoever fell behind the main body of the 
army might count on certain death at the hands of the prowling 
bands of Guerrillas that more particularly infest that section of 
country, and were said to be constantly hanging upon oiu* rear 
during the day, and watching our camp during the night, for 
the purpose of cutting of all stragglers from the immediate 
ranks. We found the dead bodies of several soldiers who had 
been murdered in this way, and after having their throats cut, 
and being robbed and stripped, .were left by the way-side, a 
prev to wild beasts, and also as a w^arning to teach us what 
kind of an enemy we had to deal with. 

Notwithstanding the excessive heat of the day, yet as soon 
as the sun went dov/n, the air suddenly became cold and damp, 
and our clothes being perfectly saturated with perspiration, by 
(lie time we arrived in camp we were all perfectly chilled, and 



IN MEXICO. 7:i 

shivering in tlie cold piercing winds that bknv in that elevatcc 
region from the neighboring snow-mountains. So sudden wr.r 
the transition from heat to cold, that it was altogether painfr] 
to bear it, and wc all hastened as quick as Ave could to build 
large tires to warm ourseh^es. Many of the men were actu- 
ally unable to leave the position they took Avhen the line oi' 
march was lirst halted, by reason of the excessive heat and 
fatigues of the day, and then becoming suddenly chilled, Avhich 
had such an effect upon their swollen and aching limbs as 
almost totally to paralizc them. But as many as were able to 
move at all, with any degree of briskness, were soon upon the 
move, and scattered in different parties over the town, collecting 
all the loose, posts, planks and boards, that were within their 
reach, from which they built large camp fires in every direc- 
tion, regardless of various hints from the citizens that such 
things were not made for the purposes of fuel. In a i'ew 
moments the whole village seemed to be in a blaze, lighted up 
by the red glare that flashed from an hundred camp fires. 
i^Jany of the citizens camo round to the officers and complaine*' 
that the soldiers were using the material of their fences a,n< 
stables and burning it for lire Avood; but they seeing that the 
men were prompted by necessity, as no other fuel could be 
obtained, no authority was interposed to restrain them, and the 
Mexicans Avcre probably indemniucd for their losses, if, iii 
reality, they sustained any. This town, consisting of abou: 
one hundred and fihy houses, v/as afterv.ards burned by Captait 
Walker, of the Texas Rangers, as it was found to be used a?- 
tlie general head quarters and rendezvous of all the guerrilla, 
forces in that section ot country. 

Being rather short of rations, and desirous of a change, 
several parties of soldiers dispersed themselves through the 
town to see if they could not procure some of the good things 
of life in the shape of butter, eggs, or mutton, but not a particle 
of any could be had either for love or money; to all of :cur 
i'lterrogations they gave the same answer, which was invariably 
"no hai, no hai," accompanied by a slow perpendicular shakf> - 
of the lore finger, the meaning of which we all very we!; 
understood as meaning that there was nothing to i)e had the), 
which could raise the spirits of a hungry man. I have oftt • 
been astonished at the small quantity of food which the Me:: 
cans generally subsisted on; we have often passed villages ^ 
five hundred or a thousand inhabitants, which v,erc entire 
destitute of any visible means of supporting one half of tl. ; 
number; and we had the most ample means of finding c ; 
their resources of sustenance, for wc were certain to institu 
4 



74 scott's campaigji 

the strictest inquiry, and even search, for something to eat, in 
every town ami village we passed. Pidque, chili-soup, and 
pandamice, with now and then a small piece of mutton boiled 
to a jelly, seemed to be the principal diet; and we frequently 
thouglit ourselves most happy if we could, by any means, pur- 
chase, at a most exhorbitant price, a small portion of any of 
these delicacies which are so gratifying to the appetite of a 
hungry soldier. I have frequently marched all day without any 
other sustenance than a little muddy brackish water sweetened 
with palojici, and a tew ounces of pilot bread, and on arriving 
at camp at night, I would be so fatigued and exhausted that I 
was totally unable to cook my scanty supper, and sleep predom- 
inating over hunger, I would forget the painfid cravings of the 
one, while lost to all sense in the luxurious arms of the other; 
a man may, in some instances, be too tired to eat, but it is a 
rare instance to find one that is too hungry to sleep. 

The town of Las Vigas contains quite a fine church for 
a place of so small a population ; it perhaps cost more than 
every other building in the place, with their contents. The 
houses (it houses they can be called) presented a very 
picturesque and uniform appearance, being built mostly ot 
erect posts drove in the ground and lashed together with vines, 
which supported a roof composed of flag or palm leaves tied 
together with strings made from the bark of the pulque plant. 
The earliest dawn of the morning of the 8th of May (the 
anniversary of the battle of Palo Alto) found our camp all in 
motion, and sounding the busy notes of preparation for the start, 
while crowds of lean, half clad women and children were 
already hurrying to and fro through the quarters, picking up 
grains of corn and scraps of meat and bread, and tattered gar- 
ments and worn out shoes which the soldiers had thrown away; 
and even the scattei-ing blades of straw and fodder that were 
left about the wagon-yard were all taken care of and husbanded 
iSs though they were of the most intrinsic value. Whether 
these poor creatures were driven to this penurious course of 
proceeding by sheer necessity, or from a spirit of innate 
economy, is a question which I am not just now able to deter- 
mine ; most probaljly, though, it was the foi'mer. 

About the time the first rays of the sun gilded the distant 
tops of the mountains, our long lines of bristling bayonets 
might have been seen extending themselves like the coils of 
some huge serpent far along the road towards the city of Perote, 
which was now some twelve miles distant. The general face 
of the country had now become somcAvhat more level, while 
extensive and well cultivated fields of corn, wheat and barley, 



IN MEXICO. 75 

skirted the main road for many leagues on both sides, most of 
which, from its yellow appearance, would soon he ready for the 
sickle. We also saw large bodies of laborers on the adjacent 
farms, who appeared to be cultivating large fields of corn and 
peas, also beans, which are produced in immense quantities in 
almost all portions of the table lands. When viewed from a 
distance in the first stages of its growth, it has the appearance 
of growing cotton, but on a closer examination it is found more 
to resemble the English pea, although there is nothing of the 
vine abput it, the stalk being perfectly erect, and growing from 
four to five feet in height; these beans, boiled perfectly solt, 
form what is called frijoJcs, which constitute the principal 
article of food among the lower classes all over Mexico. In 
the most conspicuous paits oi many ot these fields I saAv large 
wooden crosses erected on stone pillars, around Avhich Aveie 
bound wreaths of fresh flowers, which are said to be placed 
there every morning before sun-rise by some fair and faithful 
hand, in order to secure the blessings of heaven upon the 
growing crop, or to perfume the last resting place of some long 
lost friend, who had fallen a victim to the assassin's bloody knile. 
After crossing many beautiful streams of wafer, which had 
heretofore been rather uncommon, we gradually descended 
into the plain upon which stands the city and castle of Perote, 
which we reached about three o'clock in the afternoon, and had 
our quarters assigned us in some old barracks on one of the 
principal streets, and near the centre of the city. One of the 
most beautiful and extensive plains of the kind I ever saw 
stretches itself out on the side approaching the city; it is many 
leagues in extent, without a hillock, shrub, or rising spot of 
ground to break the extended view. From what information I 
had been able to pick up concerning the city of Perote, I had been 
led to the conclusion tliat it was situated upon one of the most 
elevated portions of the table lands, perhaps upon the summit 
of some lofty mountain ; and I heard n.any others express tht 
opinion that I had formed. And indeed it does possess an ele- 
vation of some five thousand feet higher than the city of Jalapa, 
yet its immediate location, and for many miles around, it has 
all the appearance of a low level plain; and one not aware of 
its great elevation above the level of the sea, would think it 
was situated in a valley, much lower than Jalapa. Its first 
impressions reminded me of Alvarado, and is about the same 
size, perhaps a little larger, containing, it may be, as many 
as eight thousand inhabitants ; and its general appearance is 
rather dilapidated. It has, in the palmier days of the republic, 
no doubt been quite an important town, and much more 



7*^; SCOTT S CAMPAIGN 

■iisely populated, than it now is. It is indebted tor most otits 
1 esent importance to the celebrated and impregnable castle 
. hich lies about half a mile to the right of the city itself. The 

alls and roofs of our barracks at this place were tolerably 
■ood. but the floors were made of round stones, and pfcrfcctly 

)vered with vermin of the most loathsome kiud, Avhich did not 

il to annoy us by day and night as long as we remained, which 
. as, most iortunately for us, a very short time. 

We were all very anxious, after we had refreshed ourselves a 
"ttle, tohave a tramp over the city, and sec what we could 
.,'>out this wonderful place, and inhabited, as Ave had learned, 
hy such wonderful people. Accordingly, alter a most siimptu- 
:. IS dinner, consisting of salt pork, dry crackers, and bad 
' .'ater, several of us set out to visit the market, and take a 

jrsory glance at the place genei-ally ; but when we arrived at 
i^ie gate that led into the court yard of our quarters, we were 
: bruptly halted ])y a gruff looking sentinel, who informed us 
.'3ry unceremoniously that we could proceed no further in that 

direction; so no other jiltcrnative was left us but to return to 
..ur quarters, shake the i7ihabttan{si'wm our blankets, and enjoy 
')urselves the best we could upon tiie rough imeA^en stone floor, 
"vith the incessant annoyance of myriads of fleas and other 
vermin of which there is a thousand and one species in every 
part of that country. 

We remained at this place on Sunday, the 9ih, which was 
;he anniversary of the battle of Rcsacade la Pahna, and which 
:i large party of us celebrated -in the castle of Perote, where so 

nany distinguished prisoners had been confined, and many 
wecuted. Captain Walker, Avitii many other American pri- 
soners, had worn the trinkets of bondage there, and even Santa 
Anna himself had, for a short time, been incarcerated within 
its gloomy dungeons. It is said that Captain Walker, while a 

;risoner in the castle, deposited a dime in a crevice of his 

iismal cell, and made a vow that he would, at some future time, 
juter those walls as a conqueror, and seek the spot of his 
liidden treasure and take it away; and sure enough he lived to 
redeem his pledge. As General Lane passed that place on his 
■•.vay to relieve the garrison at Puebla, under Colonel Cliilds, 
Captain Walker and his rangers were with him, and recollect- 
ing his hidden treasure, and his promise to redeem it, entered 
ihe dark dungeon of his former incarnation and took the identical 
piece of money from the identical spot where he had placed it 
many years before ; so it appears that he had been mindful of 
the scriptural injunction, and 'laid up his treasure where moth 
and rust did not corrupt, and where thieves did not break 



IN MEXICO; 77 

through and steal.' But poor Walker, who had, on so many 
well-tbught battle fields, reridt^red such essential service to his 
country, frorii the time he carried the express from Point Isabel 
to Fort Brown, up to the bloody fight at which he sacrificed his 
life upon the altar of his country's honor, v/as, a few days after 
this, called from the theatre of a soldier's perils to share the 
soldier's bright rev/ard. Captain Samuel H. Walker fell at 
the battle of Huamantla on the 9th of October, at the head of 
his intrepid rangers, directing one of the most brilliant and 
successful cavalry charges on record. And almost at the same 
instant fell his faithful negro servant, pierced by the fatal lance, 
while figliting by the side of his master, where he had proved 
his fidelity aiid courage in more than one fierce and bloody 
struggle since the commencement of the war. After receiving 
the fatal wound that terminated his existence, ho was infijrmed 
of the death of his master, when he expressed himself not only 
willing but anxious to die, as he had no de3ir3 v/hatcver to 
survive his brave and intrepid, but kind and humane master. 
General Lane, in his official report of this battle, uses the 
following language in speaking of the death of Captain Walker : 
"This victory is saddened by the loss of one of the most chi- 
valric, noble-hearted men that ever graced the profession of 
arms — Captain Samuel FI. Walker, of the mounted riflemen. 
Foremost in the advance, he had routed the enemy, when he fell 
mortally wounded. In his death, the service has met with a 
loss which cannot easily be repaired." 

The castle ot Perote is thought to be almost as strong, and 
built on nearly as extensive a scale, as that of San Juan do 
Uiloa at Vera Cruz; perhaps it would be equally as difficult to 
reduce, if it had the advantageous position possessed by the 
latter, as it is perfectly bomb-proof, and its walls so thick and 
strongly built as to render it almost impossible ever to effect a 
breach, even with the heaviest artillery. It mounts something 
like one hundred guns on the inner walls, besides a large num- 
ber of mortars. The largest mortar I ever saw or heard of 
was at this place ; it carried a shell tv/enty-two inches in 
diameter. The whole area of the castle, including the outer 
walls, covers a space of near five acres of ground, and is 
almost a perfect city within itself, with all the necessary appur- 
tenances which are requisite to make life either comfortable or 
miserable; including a church or chapel, and streets, dwelling; 
houses, work-shops, stores, barracks, stables, and dungeons. 
Several of the latter I had the privilege of entering, and i! 
caused me to shudder vvhen I looked round upon the dark an:, 
dismal walls, lighted only by a small hole about !;ix jncher 
4* 



78 scott's campaign 

square in the farther end, which only admitted light enough to 
make the dismal gloom, the utter desolation, perceptible. The 
floors were made of stones, which were worn perfectly smooth 
iron I the prisoners dragging over them, by day and night, their 
galling and slavish chains. 

The interior, or business part of the fortification, is surrounded 
by three distinct walls, and can only be entered by a single 
gate, which is protected by a strong and stupendous draw bridge, 
by which they can cut off all communication with the interior 
in an instant. Between the middle and inner wall is erected a 
cross, about which I noticed a pile of human bones, where the 
convicts and prisoners had been executed ; and the marks of the 
balls on the opposite walls where they had been shot were still 
distinctly visible. And as I gazed upon those bleaching wrecks 
of humanity, it occurred to me that the bones of some of my 
own countrymen might be mouldering in that mound of human 
skulls ; and then 1 felt that the Mexicans were doubly mine 
enemies ; that there were old scores to be blotted out, and I 
longed for an opportunity of retaliation. 

From the peculiar situation of the castle, it would be impos- 
sible for an invading army to avoid it in travelling the direct 
national road, as the tall rugged mountains that cluster about it, 
would render it altogether impossible to pass it by cutting a 
new route on either side ; and in the direct approach by the way 
of the road, the face of the country is such that the guns might 
play with deadly effect upon the advancing forces at the distance 
of two miles. Near Perote, and on the left, you have a beau- 
tiflil view of the misty summit of a celebrated mountain of 
basaltic porphyry, which appears to rise abruptly out of the 
plain below, and is distinctly visible from almost any point on 
the road between Jalapa and Puebla. It is called by the natives 
"El CofTre," which signifies a chest, and takes its name from 
the figure of a huge rock, which appears to be perfectly square, 
that rests upon its summit. The larger portion of the popula- 
tion of this place is said to be composed of adepts in crime 
and vice of every species. Indeed, if I were to judge from their 
general appearance, I should say that a large portion of them 
were utterly destitute of the higher and more ennobling quali- 
ties which often distinguish the betler classes which you will 
often meet with in other cities of the republic, and which the 
Mexicans pos;^ess, in many instances, to as great a degree as 
any people on earth. But with the citizens of Perote generally, 
a cursory glance of the most unpretending physiognomist would 
not fail at once to detect the lurking expression of crime and 
villainy which stands out in bold relief upoti almost every face. 



IN MEXICO. 7& 

The countenance is, almost invariably, downcast, and no one 
dares to look you full in the face, but hurries past you with rapid 
strides, as if endeavoring to couceal something, either in his 
face or his blanket, which he seems very unwilling shall come 
to the light. 

The Mexican ladies generally, I think, are decidedly superior 
to the men, not only in dress and appearance, but in all the 
finer feelings and ennobling passions of the human heart. 
And in justice to thorn, I must say that I saw one of the hand- 
somest and most fascinating Mexican girls on the steps of the 
fountain in the Grand Plaza at Perote, that ever met my enrap- 
tured gaze in any country. She was neither the native Indian, 
nor the pure Castilian, but of the medium or mixed blood, with 
a complexion something lighter than the Creole, and a figure 
as fragile and sylph-like as the floating spirits of some fairy 
land. Her features were perfect, exhibiting that rare combi- 
nation of wild and brilliant beauty which is sometimes found 
in Eastern climes, while her dark rolling eye shot arrowy 
glances ot light to the very heart of the beholder ; and yet she 
was a perfect child of nature, unconscious of her own beauty, 
and a model of uneducated native simplicity. Her dress would 
indicate that she belonged to the lower or labouring class ; it 
consisted of only two garments, a petticoat and chemise, leav- 
ing her neck, arms and bosom bare, or only partially covered 
by a thin flowing reboza, which was wrapped about her head 
and thrown carefully over the left shoulder. She was standing, 
as I before remarked, upon the steps of a fountain, with a 
l)asket of fruit on her arm, and a small earthen cup in her hand. 
I approached the fountain to fill my canteen, which gave me a 
nearer peep at this paragon of beauty and loveliness. I caught 
her eye, and she smiled; discovering that my presence was 
not disagreeable, and wishing to cultivate a more intimate 
acquaintance, I politely asked her for the use of her cup, which 
she instantly extended torne, with her rosy lip wreathed into a 
smile, and a "se serior, con much a gusto," {yes, Sir, xnihmuch 
pleasure,) pronounced in the sweetest, softest tones I ever 
heard. I handed back her cup, and was turning off' to leave 
hei-, with an adius senoriln, when she beckoned me to return, 
and handed me an orange from her well-filled basket, I 
thanked her very kindly and left for my quarters, and as I 
walked off 1 distinctly heard her say, in a mournful and half 
suppressed voice, ''pohre snldodo.^^ I could not help casting 
beiiindme many side glances as I left her. I never got sight 
of her again, although I visited the spot many times afterwards 
with the hope that I might meet her, but this pleasure was 



80 SCOTt's CAMPAIGN" 

denied me. It has now been nearly two years since the inter- 
view above mentioned, yet her image, with its every feature, is 
as fresh in my memory as it was the day that I saw lier ; and I 
verily believe that if I were to meet her now, I should instantly 
recogiiize her as the beautiful market girl of Perote. She 
seemed to stand alone, a being of life and light, a monument of 
original and unadorned beauty and loveliness, amid the ruined 
wreck of moral desolation and personal deformity that sur- 
rounded her, a perfect specimen of nature's handiwork, dis- 
daining to borrow charms from the gaudy tinsel of fashion, or 
the alluring blandishments of art: 

" A rose in the wilderness left on the stalk, 
To tell where the garden has been.'' 

I am aware that the idea has been advanced ])y travellers 
and historians that the Mexican ladies generally are not hand- 
some. i\Iy position as a soldier prevented me from having that 
access to the circles of the higher classes which was neces- 
sary in order to enable me to judge correctly of the beauty 
and accomplishments of the elile and fashionable. But that 
there are a great many handsome ladies in Mexico, no one who 
has travelled extensively there, and looked at matters and things 
through a proper medium, will pretend to deny. And in order 
to show that I am not the only one who has found beauty and 
grace of no ordinary character, even among the k;wor classes, 
1 transcribe the following paragraphs from "Kendall's Santa Fe 
Expedition," which ought to be considered good authority on 
such subjects: — "It was at Albuquerque that 1 saw a perfect 
specimen of female loveliness. The girl was poor, being 
dressed only in a chemise and coarse woolen petticoat ; yet there 
was an air of grace, a charm about her, that neither birth nor 
fortune can bestow. She was standing upon a mud-wall, the 
taper fingers of her right hand supporting a large |)umpkin upon 
her head, while her left was graceiidly restingupon her hip. Her 
dark, full, and lustrous eyes, overarched with brows of pencilled 
regularity, and fringed with lashes of long and silken texture, 
beamed upon us full of tenderness and pity, while an unbidden 
tear of sorrow at our misfoi tunes was coursing down a cheek 
of the purest and richest olive. Her beautifully curved lips, 
half opened as if in pity and astonishment at a scene so uncom- 
mon, disclosed teeth of pearly, dazzling whiteness. Innocence, 
and the best feelings of our nature, were playing in every linea- 
ment of that lovely face, and ever and anon, as some one of us, 
more unfortunate than the rest, wouKl limp halting by, again 



IN MEXICO. 81 

her tears would gush from their fbuntairs and illuming a ccun- 
tenance of purity. If, 

" Chrystal tears from pity's eye 
Are the stars in lieaven high," 

some of tl'.em fell that day from the poor village girl, drawn 
liom the firmament to lighten the sorrows of those upon whom 
misfortimo had laid her heavy hand. She could not be more 
than fifteen; yet her loose and flowing dress, but half conceal- 
ing a bust of surpassing beauty and loveliness, plainly disclosed 
that she was just entering womanhood. Her figure was fault- 
less, and even the chisel of Praxi'eles himself never modelled 
ankles of such pure and classic elegance. As the long and 
straggling line of prisoners passed the spot upon which this 
lovel}' form was standing, sore and worn down by long marches, 
and want of food and sleep, her rare beauty drew the eyes of 
all towards her, and exclamations of wonder were upon every 
lip. She understood not our language, and in the artless sim- 
plicity of her nature, knew not that her singular loveliness, 
combined v.'ith the display of charms her unstudied yet graceful 
attitude and scanty dress had given, was the theme of almost 
universal admiration. She beckoned to a youth among the 
prisoners, a German lad but little older than herself, and pre- 
sented him the pum|)kin with infinite delicacy and grace: and 
as she did it, the exclamation pohrcciio was heard gently falling 
from her lips intones of softest pity. The fairest flowers arc 
oftenest found in obscurity, and I trust my readers will not 
doubt my sincerit}' when I assert that the prettiest girl I ever 
saw was selling woolen stockings at twenty-five cents a pair at 
Holmes's Hole, Massachusetts — her twin-sister in beauty was 
standing in her bare feet upon a mud-wall in Albuquerque, New 
Mexico, with a pumpkin upon her head! I lingered to take a 
last look at this beautiful girl, and when I tvu'ned from the spot, 
I could not but regret that the lot of one so kind hearted and so 
fair had been cast in such a place. There are faces we see 
in our journey through life surpassingly beautiful, faces that 
leave a deep and lasting impression on the beholders, and hers 
was one of them. Among the crowds of beauty, her image 
will stand out in bold relief, and not one of those v.'ho saw 
her on the dav we passed through Albuquerque v^ill ever forget 
her." 



82 SCOTT S CAMPAION 



CHAPTER VIII. 



Tho market at Perote is very badly supplied, although the 
surrounding country appears to be fertile and productive, and to 
some extent well cultivated; yet it was with much difficulty 
that we could get a loaf of bread or a cup of chocolate, and 
even that could bo procured in very small quantities and at 
enormous prices. Bananas, plantains, onions, garlic, and chile, 
with an occasional leg of mutton, seemed to be almost the only 
available luxuries of the place; while chickens, eggs, potatoes, 
and pork, were entirely out of the question. In fact, it did not 
appear that there were provision enough in the whole city to 
have fed our army for twenty-four hours. I should suppose they 
were mainly dependent upon the country people for the common 
necessaries of life, who supply them daily with barely a suffi- 
ciency for the time being. 

Although we had many very heavy rains upon us while we 
were encamped near Jalapa, yet on our march from that place 
towards Puebla, we had most beautifully dry and pleasant 
weather, with bright and cloudless skies ; such, only, as that 
soft and sunny clime can know; and on arriving at Perote, the 
ground was dry, and the roads delightfully hard and pleasant, 
the ordinary rainy season having not yet fully set in. I noticed 
numerous whirlwinds on the dry and dusty plains about Perote, 
such as frequently prevail in this country in very dry weather, 
though not to the same extent; they would carry up an erect 
column of dust as far as the eye could reach, and hold it in that 
position from live to ten minutes. I have seen a dozen of them 
at one time, raising perfect pyramids of dust, and almost 
darkening the air with particles of sand and fragments of 
prairie grass. 

Heie I had an opportunity of inspecting more minutely the 
celebrated maquey plant, or American Aloe, from which the 
universal Mexican drink called pvhpte is produced. I had seen 
a few scattering plants of this before, but it does not grow to 
any considerable extent, nearer the beach than Perote ; and 
even here the pulque is very scarce, as it is not manufactured 
on a very extensive scale on this side of Puebla. It has a 
whitish appearance, something like a mixture of milk and 
water, and has a ropy adhesive quality while in the first stages 
of fermentation, and at first is very unpleasant to the taste and 
smell, but if you can manage to swallow half a dozen glasses 
without vomiting, you will be apt to think it a very pleasant 



tN MEXICO. 8S 

drink ever afterwards. The greatest objection to it at first is its 
tainted or putrid taste, which is occasioned by the sheep or hog 
skins in which it is carried. I do not know whether this is 
adopted as a matter of convenience, or to tlicilitate the process 
of I'ermentation; but its frequent use will soon do away with 
that objection, and then it is esteemed one of the most pleasant 
and refreshing drinks imaginable. I can well remember when 
its unpleasant odor rendered it almost loathsome even to pass 
the door of a pulque shop, and as for drinking it, I would as soon 
have thought of regaling myself with a draught of tartar emetic ; 
but betbre I left the city of Mexico, my attachment for it had so 
increased that I would as soon have been deprived of my coffee 
as my glass of pulque. 

This plant is cultivated very extensively in the vicinity of 
Pueblaand in the valley of Mexico in large fields, from which 
immense profits are realized by the proprietors. It grows from 
seven to fourteen years before it blooms, and while in the 
efHorescent stale, the main trunk or stem is cut ofi' about three 
feet from the ground, and the pith or soft spungy substance in 
the centre is cut out with an iron scraper, forming a cavity or 
bowl sufficiently large to hold several gallons of sap ; it is then 
covered so as to protect it from the rain, and permitted to stand 
for twenty-four hours. The Indian laborer who then comes to 
secure the liquid that has collected in the cavity, has a skin of 
either a hog, sheep, or goat, which he carries confined in a 
coarse network on his back, and supported by a leather strap, 
which he passes over the forehead. He also carries a gourd 
about two feet long, which answers the purpose of a suction 
pipe, with a small hole in one end, while on the other, or smaller 
end, is fixed a horn, which he inserts into the cavity of the 
stalk, and placing the other to his mouth, he sucks until the 
gourd is filled; he then places his finger over the lower end to 
prevent the liquor from escaping, and turning it over his 
shoulder inserts it in the mouth of the skin. This process is 
repeated until the skin is full, and then he sets off for market, 
where he disposes of it. It is said that one plant will often 
yield as much as one hundred and fifty gallons, and some even 
more than that. Humboldt says that a single plant of the 
maguey will yield 452 cubic inches of liquor in twenty-four 
hours, for as long a period as four or five months, which would 
amount to more than four hundred gallons. The pulque, when 
first taken from the stalk, is poured into large vats or barrels 
lined with skins, where it remains until the process of fermenta- 
tion commences ; it is then carried to the shop, where it is 
placed in large tubs or barrels, from whence it is retailed at a 



84 scott's campaign 

Unco a glass, which is about a picayune a quart. Tlie pulque 
shops in the city are distinguished by tanciful red flags suspended 
above the door; these flags are generally hung out about 9 
o'clock in the morning, when the shops are opened, and are 
taken down at about three in the afternoon, when all the shops 
of that kind are invariably closed by a regulation of the city 
authorities, and if one is found open a'ler that hour, the propri- 
etor forfeits his license. I think it contains something more 
of the intoxicating quality than ordinary hard cider, as I have 
seen persons become quite drunk from drink ng less than half 
a dozen glasses. 

I have been led, from observation, to conclude that the Mexi- 
cans "eneraliy are rather a temperate and abstemious people ; 
and I am yet of opinion that there are fewer cases of drunken- 
ness in the towns and larger cities of Mexico, than there are in 
those of the United States ; yet I have seen large parties of both 
men and women collect at those pulque shops, on pleasant 
afternoons, and Sundays more particularl}', and after passing 
round the flowing boirl till they had all become quite lively and 
frolicsome, they would seat one of their companions in a corner 
with a guitar, while with song and dance ihey would shuffle ofi' 
a real fandango at quite a merry rate. 1 noticed that there 
were two kinds of puhiue which were used by the citizens of 
Puebla more particularly, but I do not remember of seeing but 
one kind in the city of Mexico; the pulque la bianco, or white 
pulque, which is the unadulterated, and the pulque la jienia, or 
the pulque of pine apple, which is strongly impregnated with 
the juice of the latter fruit, and tastes and looks like new cider. 
The fnmeris in universal use, and is considered very healthy; 
the latter is more pleasant to the taste, V)ut not so much used, 
as it is considered unwholesome. 

We left Perote with but very few manifestations of regret, on 
^[onday morning, the 10th of May, and after marching about 
ten miles round the foot of a very high mountain, and over a 
hard and level road, we were halted tor the night at some dra- 
goon's barracks called San Antonio, where we found a very 
deep well, the water from which was fi'om fair to middling, 
and was drawn up by 07ie mule pourr. Near our quarters was 
a hacienda, or small village, consisting of some fifteen or 
twent> huts, the inhabitants of which were engaged in making 
a kind of coarse cloth f>om the bark of maguey leaves, and the 
leaf of the palm or palmetto tree. I rambled all over this vil- 
lage, inquiring at every door fin- pandamice, tortillias, or chile 
soup, but not one mouthful of any thing that would appease the 
cravings of hunger could be had for either love or money, within 



In MEXICO. 85 

the corporate limits of tliis flourishing little inland town. A 
wall built of brick and mortar, about ten rods square and fifteen 
feet high, enclosed our quarters, on one side of which were 
arranged stalls flir horses, and on the other side were barracks 
tor soldiers. We killed some fat beeves at this place, a thing, 
' by the bye, of rather rare occurrence, and made our short so- 
journ quite as comfortable as could have been expected under 
the circumstances. 

The weather still continued clear and dry, and would have 
been altogether pleasant if it had not been quite so warm, 
which rendered our long and fatiguing marches rather exhaust- 
ing. Refreshed and invigorated liy a sound night's sleep, and 
a most delicious breaktiist of savory beefsteak, the first faint 
streaks of day found us, with vrell-filled canteens and haver- 
sacks, and fjrty rounds of ball cartridges, marking the prairie's 
wide waste with clouds of rolling dust, towards the Eden of our 
hopes, and the beau ideal of our ambition, la nrandc ciudad de 
Ins angcirs, (the proud and opulent city of the angels.) Our 
march on this day led over a most beautiful hard level road, 
traversing a valley "shut in from the rude world" by the rug- 
ged cliffs of tall and continuous mountains, whose craggy 
brows and barren tops rose treeless and shrubless in silent, 
solitary grandeur towards the parched scroll of the burning 
heavens. The valley itself was a perfectly dry and barren 
plain, with only now and then a stunted growth of withered 
prairie grass, and not one drop of water to cool the parched 
lip of the way-worn soldier, as he tottered and groaned beneath 
his unwieldly burden. The very atmosphere seemed to be 
stagnant, and the winds v>'ithered; and the occasional breeze 
that would spring up seemed to be only the hot puffings of some 
heated furnace, or pent up volcano. Not a bird flapped its 
useless wing, nor an insect spr(>ad its silken pinions to the 
breeze — the hum of busy life was hushed and stil! — the low of 
the distant herd, the sm^'ting of the wild horse, and the hungry 
wolf's long howl, never resounded in these valleys, or echoed 
on these barren mountains. 

As we progressed further, a rather peculiar species of the 
cactus were seen, and a sweet-smelling herb, bearing a white 
flower, and somewhat resem]>ling the lavander of this country; 
but they even appeared stinited and dry for want of moisture 
and nourishment. This low level region is a continuation of 
the valley of Perote, which we entered some few leagues be- 
fore reaching that city, since Avhich time we had not seen a 
single di'op of running water, and but one well, excepting the 
fountains at the city of Perote. We were halted on this day 



86 SCOTT S CAMPAIGJJ 

about two o'clock, and took up our quarters in the barracks at a 
considerable village or town called Tepeyahualco, where we 
remained for the balance of the day and night, and proceeded 
forthwith to refresh ourselves with draughts of tolerably fresh 
cool water, which we found tolerably good, though a little on 
the mineral order. The water which we brought in our can- 
teens from the camp at San Antonio was heated almost to 
scalding, being exposed all day on the hot prairie to a blazing 
tropical sun, and you may readily suppose that almost any water 
would taste well after drinking such as that for a whole day. 
1 found myself rather too much exhausted from the fatigues of 
the day to amuse myself much in travelling over the town, but 
if I were to judge from the rather limited amount of observation 
which I found it convenient to bestow upon it, I should feel 
bound to say that it was a place of some importance, or at least, 
conceived to be so by the citizens, and might, with some pro- 
pi-iety, soon be called a city by brevet. The houses are gen- 
erally well constructed, being built of brick or stone, and 
strongly fortified with thick, heavy doors, and iron bars across 
the windows. 

I think if there is any place in the world where a man's 
house can, with propriety, be called "his castle," that place is 
Mexico; as their most oi'dinary houses, especially in towns and 
cities, appear to have been built, with the direct object in view, 
of enabling the inmates to defend themselves against the hasty 
attacks, or protracted siege, of any revolutionary movement or 
military invasion. I was rather astonished at finding this place 
better supplied with the necessaries of life than most places of 
Its size we had passed l)efore ; it even excelled ihe flourishing 
city of Perote itself. When I recollected that this town is 
situated in the midst of an almost desert waste, where scarcely 
a vestige of vegetation could be seen, or a drop of water pro- 
cured, I expected of course to find it but illy supplied with tho. e 
"kitchen comforts" which are always necessary to suppress 
the clamorings of an Anglo-Saxon appetite ; but in this, for 
once in my life. I was most agreeably disappointed, for near 
our quarters I found several shops where bread, potatoes, fruit, 
and pulque were sold in all quantities, and at reasonable prices. 
This can only be accounted for from the circumstance that quite 
an extensive commerce is carried on between that place and 
other more wealthy and productive portions of the countiy, 
from which large supplies of merchandize are almost constantly 
being received; but the nature or material of the exports with 
which this town commands such a trade with her more opulent 



IN MEXi<;o. 87 

neighbors, is a matter upon which I was not so fodunate as to 
gain any satisfactory information. 

Near this place, on its eastern side, is a very peculiar moun- 
tain, rising abruptly from the surrounding ])lain to a great 
height, and almost overshadowing the town; it is called Cerro 
Pizzarro, and is perfectly conical in its shape, with little or no 
vegetation upon its sides, and is said to be composed of a solid 
mass of volcanic matter. The barracks in which we were 
quartered at this place had recently been used as stables, and 
we slept soundly and sweetly upon the sweet-scented hay which 
the horses had scattered from the racks, while a large pen of 
hogs were squealing and fighting just at our heads all night 
long; but the " porker's serenade," with all its "concord of 
sweet sounds," was not sufficient to keep us awake. It is very 
hard indeed to disturb the repose of a tired soldier, or place him 
in a position where he cannot sleep. His greatest luxury is in 
roving the enchanted plains of the dreamy land, and holding 
converse with the spirits that people the bright realms of "tired 
nature's sweet restorer, balmy sleep," and the beauty of it is 
that he can sleep any where, at any time, under any set of cir- 
cumstances, and with any kind of company. He can throw 
himself upon the cold ground, and with his head upon the curb- 
stone, and a single blanket for his covering, sleep as soundly 
and rest as sweetly as if he were reposing upon a bed of 
down ; and perchance he may dream of happier hours when 
war's shrill clarion shall be hushed, and returning peace shall 
restore him to his long lost home and friends. 

"When reposing that night on my pallet of straw, 
By tlie wolf-saring faggot that guarded the slain; 

At the dead of the night a sweet vision I saw, 
And thrice e'er the morning I dreampt it again. 

Methought from tlie battle-field dreadfid array. 

Far, tar had I roamed on a desolate track ; 
'Twas autumn — and sunshine arose on tlie way 

To the home of my fatliers that welcomed me back." 

The Alcalde of this town was very kind and obliging, and 
seemed disposed to do every thing in his power to render our 
stay within the corporate limits of his jurisdiction comfortable 
and happy. And even the canaille, the gentlemen of the 
blanket, and the ladies of the basket, whom we met about the 
streets, seemed to greet us with a welcome smile, and kindly 
extended to us every hospitality which their very limited means 
would enable them to command. The ladies in particular were 
kind and attentive to a fault, making the soldiers presents of 



88 SCOTT S CAMPAIGN 

various little articles which they might need on the march, such 
as earthen cups, wooden spoons, and the like. I could not but 
remark the very striking difference between our reception at 
this place and at Perote. At the latter place we were all look- 
ed upon with an eye of suspicion and distrust, and the doors of 
hospitable kindness and plenty were all locked against us. But 
here, we were every Avhere regarded as friends rather than 
enemies, to an extent that made us almost regret that our pecu- 
liar relationship arrayed us in hostile attitude against such kind 
and generous foes. 

We bid adieu to our much respected host, the Alcalde of 
Tepeyahualco, and his most gracious and obedient subjects, on 
Wednesday morning, the 12th of May, and turned our faces 
towards Ojo-de-Agua, which was designed as our next camp. 
After leaving this town a short distance, I cast my eyes ahead 
to see if I could discover any traces of a probable change of 
Si-ene, or variation of landscape, which might appear in the 
shape of a meandering brook, a rising knoll, or a cluster of 
trees ; but nothing but the dull unbroken monotony that had 
hung about our path for the last (wo days' march, still spread 
out its dreary and burning track before us, as far as the eye 
could reach, without a green spot to mark the withered Avaste 
of nature's wildest desolation. That dull, dead level, Vvithout 
the pleasing variation ol rise or fall, and those eternal moun- 
tains that hemmed in our way on either side, were still frown- 
ing dov/n upon us with their beetling brov^'s and diadems of 
rock, where stunted vegetation never dares to shoot a living 
blade, or show a leaf of green. This day the weather was 
excessively hot, and in order to reach water in a sufRcient 
quantity to supply both man and beast, we were compelled to 
make a forced march of about twenty-five miles, Avhich so com- 
pletely wore out and exhausted the men that scores of them 
sunk down by the road side, and v.as left to find their way into 
camp, whenever their returning strength might enable them to 
resume the march ; and manj^, I dare say, never overtook the 
army at all, but fell victims to the destroying knife of the " 
ladroncs, who were coustantly hanging about our flanks and 
rear, like gangs of famished wolves, seeking to devour the weak 
and lame who might fall behind the line of march. I shall 
always cherish, with a grateful heart, the remembrance of a 
kind and generous decc] which was done me on the afternoon of 
that day by James D. Bhuiding, our Ijrigado commissary, and 
which, in all probability, saved my life. \Ve had been urging 
our way over the hot, dusty prairie, for about eight hours ; I had 
been rallying all my energies into one mighty eflbrtto keep up, 



IN MEXICO. 89 

but at length exhausted nature failed to sustain me any longer, 
and with swollen limbs and Ijruiscd and blistered feet, I had 
been compelled to fall some distance in (he rear of the liries. I 
had just passed one of my particular friends who had given out 
and was lying hy the road, his head resting upon his arm, and 
his gun lying at his feet ; he begged me to give hirn some assist- 
ance, but I candidly told him that it was completely out of my 
power, as I should shortly have to lie down myself unless I got 
some assistance. I can never foiget the look lie gave me as I 
passed on and left him, as he expected, no doubt, to be murdered 
m less than half an hour. Poor Fetner! he was taken up b}^ 
some teamster and ijrought into camp; he survived but a shoit 
time, and died in the hospital soon after we reached Pueljla. I 
had hobbled on about a mile, and had concluded to lie down and 
submit to my fate; just at this moment Captain Blanding was 
riding past me, and on seeing my almost helpless condition, he 
immediately halted a wagon and ordered the teamster to give 
me a seat and see that I was safely conducted to camp. This 
act of kindness may appear to some as nothing more than the 
bounden duty of an officer towards a sick or disabled soldier, 
but still it was a favor by no means conferred ia ail cases by 
ihe gentlemen of the sword and epaulette. 

A little after sun dovv'u we reached Ojo-dc-Agua, (the eye of 
•water,) or Avarm springs, as it is sometimes called, where we 
•encamped for the night upon a beautiful plaiii covered with a 
very luxuriant growth of coarse grass and palmetto trees. This 
is one of the largest and most beautiful springs I ever saw, 
pioducing a large volume of clear sparkling water, which 
rushes out of the ground near the foot of a small hillock or 
mound, and runs olfin a limpid stream rippling over its pebbly 
bottom, until it looses itself in a neighboring lake. The water 
from this spring is so warm as to be unpleasant to the taste, 
but alter keeping it in a vessel for an hoiu* or two, it liecomes 
cool enough, and after being kept in a canteen all night it be- 
comes so cold tis to make ones teeth ache in drinking it. The 
grass on the prairie over which we marched on the afternoon 
of this day Avas more green and luxuriant than I had noticed 
before, growing in many places as tall as wheat or rye; this 
was occasioned by the proximity of lakes and large ponds of 
water which imparted some moisture to the soil. The trees 
which skirted the foot of the mountains were also larger and 
more green and luxuriant, and the whole face of the country 
began to wear a different and more lively aspect; large droves 
■of wild hoises and cattle were seen grazing upon the green 
bosom of the trackless prairie ; and birds of rich and varied 



90 SCOTT S CAMPAIGN 

plumage flitted across our path, and nestled in the gieen herbage 
upon the mountain's side. The fact was, we were about to 
emerge from the celebrated valley of Perote, through Avhich we 
had been marching for the last three days, during which time 
we had not seen a single stream of running water. We threw 
ourselves upon the tall waving grass and slept as soundly as 
our lacerated feet and aching bones would permit us, until about 
four o'clock in the morning, when we were suddenly aroused 
fi'om our slumbers, and ordered to prepare for the march with 
all possible despatch, as an express had reached our camp from 
General Worth, who was about twenty-five miles in our ad- 
vance, ordering our brigade to press forward with all speed and 
join him that, day, if possible, as Santa Anna was in his vicinity 
Avith quite a strong force, whom he intended to attack as soon as 
Quitman's brigade could reach him. So off we set at early 
dawn, under a rapid forced march, with what we considered 
pretty fair prospects of a flight ahead ; but fortunately for us, 
about noon another order reached us, countermanding the one 
in the morning, in consequence of Santa Anna having left his 
former positi(jn, and moved oft' in the direction of Puebla. So 
we did not accomplish our intended march, but stopped at quite 
an early hour, at a large pond of water, near the foot of a 
mountain called El PinaL 

We pitched our camp upon s hill side, where there was very 
little wood ; we built fires of the maguey leaves, which answered 
our purposes Ibr cooking; and as the water from the pond was 
vei'y warm and muddy, the Indian women from the neighboring 
ranches supplied us with an article of rather a superior quality, 
which they brought in earthen jars strapped upon their backs, 
and sold it to the soldiers in camp at a tlaco a pint. A soldier 
belonging to the New York regiment was shot through the 
fleshy part of both his thighs soon after we pitched our camp. 
I called to see him while the Doctor was dressing his wound; 
he seemed to be suffering great pain. T never saw any thing 
more of him after that evening, nor did I ever ht-ar whether he 
lived or died. The night was very cold and we had to submit 
to the inc(jnvenience of sleeping on tiie naked ground, without 
tents, and but a single blanket. Worth's division had occupied 
this position the night betbre, ajid their camp fires were still 
burning when we arrived, and the fresh traces of their loner 
lines of tents were still visible. This place takes its name from 
a tall mountain that rises near the road, and to the left, and is 
perfectly covered from top to bottom with a stunted growth of 
pines, together with several other smaller ones that rises out of 
the valley around it, which seem to be con)posed almost entirely 



I'N MEXICO. 



91 



of a solid rock, with the trees and shrubbery growing fi'om the 
crevices and fissures, and which is probably of volcanic forma- 
tion. In this vicinity the land appeared to be quite productive, 
and I noticed a large number of very extensive and well-culti- 
vated farms in the vicinity, with swarms of Indian laborers at 
work upon them. Their manner of cultivating their ilirms in 
that country is rather peculiar, as is also their implements of 
husbandry; their ploughs have but one handle, and are almost 
invariably drawn by a yoke of oxen; the ploughman holds the 
handle of the plough in one hand, and in the other along pole 
with an iron point, with which he goads the oxen when he 
wishes them to increase their speed. The plough mould is 
nothing more than a piece of wood pointed with iron, and fre- 
quently without any iron at all. The movement of the oxen in 
harness is very slow, but they seem to plough the ground quite 
deep, and open a very large farrow, although the process must 
be slow and tedious. I should suppose that this is the very 
same style of plough that their Aztec fathers used for ten gen- 
erations back, and yet such is their superstition, and stubborn 
opposition to the least movement of innovation on the ancient 
habits and customs, that they peremptorily reject every im- 
provement, in any department of business, and cling with infidel 
tenacity to long established rules. Those Avho use the hoe, 
which is also a strange, savage-looking instrument, and is so 
formed that it is impossible to stand erect and use it, bend their 
heads almost to the ground, which position they are compelled 
to maintain all the day long, and digging away at such a rapid 
rate that one would think their very lives depended on the 
amount of work they might be able to accomplish in one day. 
The ox is used almost invariably for the plough and the cart ; 
the mule and ass, as beasts of burden ; and the horse for the 
saddle. These rules are not invariably adhered to, but they 
are very seldom departed from. 

The Mexican horses generally are not large, but finely pro- 
portioned, spirited, and active, and can carry a man further in a 
day, with less fatigue to themselves and rider, than the larger 
and more powertul horses of this country. In perfect symme- 
try of formation, spirit and mettle, general beauty, and variety 
of gait, and the power of enduring protracted fatigue without 
serious inconvenience, the Mexican horses excel those perhaps 
of any other country. Thompson, in his " Recollections of 
Mexico," says that he never saw a fine Mexican horse. In 
this particular I shall certainly disagree with him, especially if 
he intends to convey the idea that there are no such thing as 
fine horses in Mexico; and in the face of such authority as this, 



92 SCOTT S CAMPAIGN 

I shall risk the assertion that the finest horses, decidedly, that 
I ever did see, were the well-fed, well-trained saddle horses, 
which are used for riding on the Paseo and Alcmada l;y the 
higher classes in the city of Mexico. And I can also further 
say, without fear of successful contradiclion, that the Mexican 
cabaUeros are the finest riders, and the best horsemen generally 
that I ever saw. Throwing the lasso or lariat, is not only a 
very fashionable amusement, but also a very useful art, among 
the vigorous and athletic horsemen cf Mexico, and can only be 
performed, with any degree ot skill, by a first rate rider, and he 
mounted upon a first rate horse. I have seen them catch wild 
cattle, and even horses, by throwing the lasso over their head«, 
or any foot they might choose, at pleasure, and both parties going 
at full speed. The lasso is about the size of an ordinary cart 
rope, formed of a compound of horse hair and the bark of -the 
maguey, and is from twenty-five to thirty feet long, and so strong 
that it is next to impossible to break it. One end of this rope 
is formed into a noose, and held in the hand of the rider, while 
the other is tied fast to the saddle bow ; this lasso can be thrown 
by a skilful hand, with great certainty and precision, the full 
length of the rope, even if it is fifty feet long. Some of the 
Mexican Generals have thought that the exercise of throwing 
the lasso miglit be incorporated into the military tactics of the 
republic, and be used to advantage in breaking hollow squares 
of infantry, by lassoing the men and leading them out of lines, 
thus making (he lasso usurp the place of the sword in cavalry 
movements. 

The first Mexican stage coach I sav>', vvas on the road near 
Jalapa. It was built very much like those of the States, and 
resembled them very mi'.ch in its general appearance ; I think, 
if any difference, it is something larger; it was drawn at quite 
a rapid rate by ten fine dasliing mules, the first and second lour 
abreast, and tuo in the lead, with twelve men in and on it be- 
sidos'the driver. I should judge from what 1 saw that stage 
travelling was rather pleasant in Mexico; the roads are gener- 
ally good ; the drivers sober and careful, and the mules kept up 
to the top of their mettle, being changed every eight or ten 
miles, and I should think made much better time than is gen- 
erally made by stages in this country. 

There is another mode of -pvhlic conveyance in Mexico, 
which is called <he Uttera, in which one can travel j/rim/cZ//, 
and is quite "the go" among the elite of the tierra calicntc. 
It is nothing more than a covered litter, in which the solitary 
traveller can have all the room to himself, and enjoy "the 
liberty «ifthe limb" to a much more satisfactory cxtciit than he 



IN MEXICO. 93 

can in a stage coach. It is carried quite above the ground by 
two mules, the one tbllowing the other; it is constructed tor the 
accotnmodation of l)ut one passenger, and he can recline most 
luxuriously at full lengih, perfectly sheltered from sun and rain 
l)y the rich silken curtains that completely envelop the whole 
interior, and tlicre, shut in from the busy world, can enjoy an 
undisturbed tranquiliity, and amuse himself by smoking, or 
reading, or thinking, or doing just nothing at all, as may seem 
to be most agreeable to his fancy or inclination. The littera 
is attended by tvv^o nrrieros or muleteers, whose business it is 
to keep the long-eared animals at a pretty brisk gait, and have 
a care that they do not stumble and iiill, which would jje very 
apt to disturb most seriously the horizontal equilibrium of the 
inside passenger, and perhaps cause him to spill his book or 
segar, or perhaps his own precious person. 

Before the lirst faint streaks of the coming morn had lit up 
t\\a tall peak ot El Pinal, or the gray mists (hat hung upon its 
sides were being dispersed by the silvery beams of Aurora's 
first 1)orn, our camp was roused by the early reveille, and the 
sleeping soldier, ibrgetting his dreams, sprang from his grassy 
couch, shook the dew-drops from his locks, and arranging his 
toilet by the glimmering light of the morning star, was soon 
busily employed in preparing his hasty breakfast, which con- 
sisted of coffee, beef, ae.d crackers, the latter of which was 
hard and dry enough to justify the opinion which many express- 
ed, that they were baked for the troops in the Florida war. 
This day, which was Friday, the 14th of May, we passed 
through a Vi'cll-watered and most picturesque portion of coun- 
try, the scenery of which was grand and sublime, and the 
landscape rich and variegated. I saw the black-pepper tree 
grov, ing l)y the way side, and loaded with berries, the hull of 
which had a red appearance, and grew in bunches like grapes ; 
I tasted some of the grains, and soon satisfied myself that it 
Avas the genuine black-pe[)per. The tree grows from five to 
t-f^n feet high, and somewhat resembles the swamp willow of 
this country. I also saw the coffee tree in a green or growing 
state, and the grains of coflec growing in bunches upon it, but 
1 did not have an opportunity of examining it as closely as I 
could have wished, and therefore am not prepared to give an 
accurate description of it. 

About ten o'clock we passed through Acajeta, which is quite 
a beautiful little village, and contains a splendid ibuntain of 
clear cold water, which spouts up in beautiful jets from a large 
reservoir or basin, which is situated in the center of the princi- 
pal plaza or public square ; and through the kindness of our 



94 scott's campaign 

officers, we were permitted to stop long enough to take a drink 
and fill our canteens, but no longer. Soon atter leaving this 
place, we heard the report of artillery ahead of us, and appa- 
rently at but a short distance, which we all readily concluded 
was an engagement between the advance of General Worth's 
command and the Mexican f^jrces under Santa Anna, which had 
been retreating before him tor several days. Our march was 
instantly changed to double-quick time, and notwithstanding all 
hands seemed to be pretty much exhausted and travel-worn, 
yet they moved on with renewed life and vigor, some at a brisk 
trot, and the balance as fast as their wearied limbs could carry 
them; and when we Avere halted and formed in line of battle, 
the sick and debilitated invalids crawled out of the wagons and 
joined us. Men who were totally unable to march, and had 
been assigned a place by the Surgeon, in the hospital wagons, 
staggered out and reported themselves for duty, and took their 
place in lines, as if the thunder ot artillery, and the shouts of 
the advancing troops, had infused new life into their emaciated 
frames. 

We all expected every moment to be ushered into the thick- 
est of the fight, for we were so near the contending forces, 
although not in sight, that we could smell the battle's smoke, 
and hear the whistling of the balls. But almost instantly the 
firing ceased, and the news reached our rapidly advancing lines, 
that Worth had met Santa Anna, and after some spirited skir- 
mishing, and a few well-directed rounds of grape and canister, 
the Mexicans were routed, and were then in full retreat towards 
Puebla. And when this news reached our advancing columns, 
as they were rushing and cheering on to the combat, all seemed 
disappointed, as their mettle was up, and their heads bent upon 
a fight, and nothing would have pleased them better than a 
chance to measure arms with Santa Anna, at any odds what- 
ever. It was thought that it was Sania Anna's intention to 
diverge from the main road and permit Worth to pass him, and 
then fall on Quitman's brigade, which only consisted of two 
regiments, and after having cut it to pieces, he would have been 
enabled to capture the wagon train, which would have been of 
some value to him. But in this, as in many other like instances, 
he was most sadly disap])ointed, fur the vigilant eye of Worth 
had been upon him all the while, watching every movement 
that he made, with a determination never to let him pass to the 
rear. Worth knowing our dangerous position, halted his 
troops as soon as the fight was over, and remained on the field 
until our brigade came up, when we rejoined him, and after 
putting our arms in proper order, and being supplied with a few 



IN MEXICO. 95 

extra rounds of cartridges, the united forces marched on together 
as tar as the town of Amozoque, which we reached about three 
o'clock in the afternoon. Here we liaUed, as we thought, for 
the night, and had our quarters assigned us in some stables and 
other vacant buildings; but the wagons were ordered not to be 
unloaded, as it was notknown at what hour we might be ordered 
to resume our march, as our present position was considered 
rather a critical one, so we had to pass our time as comfortably 
as we could, almost without rations or blankets, which was 
rather a serious inconvenience at best. 

The regiment to which I belonged was quartered in a long 
range of stalls or sheds for horses, and after despatching the 
few crusts and cruniljs which we chanced to have in our haver- 
sacks, we commenced looking about us for places to sleep ; some 
lay in the troughs, some in the racks, and some on the filthy 
earthen floor of the stables, laying their heads upon their car- 
tridge boxes and canteens, and some even upon stones and 
l)locks of wood, not knowing at what hour we might be aroused 
for the march ; and for convenience, in case of emergency, each 
one lay his trusty musket by his side, and placed all his baggage 
so near that he could grasp it instantly. But to cap the climax 
of our misery, just as we had got snugly ensconced in our 
quarters, it commenced raining in torrents, and the roof of our 
quarters being very bad, the water poured through upon us 
like a shower bath, and to an extent that was by no means 
comfortable. 

All who were fortunate enough to have a few reals went out 
about town in search of some of the luxuries of this trouble- 
some world, with which, towns the size of this, in almost every 
other country except Mexico, usually abound; but that unwel- 
come sound, the death-knell of a hungry man's hope, no hae, 
nader, saluted their ears in almost every instance, and they 
were able to procure very little, even of the substantials of life, 
as supplies of all kinds, just at that particular time, seemed to 
be extremely short; and such, I have no doubt, was the fact, :is 
large bodies of the enemy's troops had been quartering there 
for some time past, on which occasions they never fail to levy 
large military contributions upon the resources of their more 
peaceful neighliors. We were all perfectly drenched with the 
rain, and had to sleep in our wet clothes all night; but to make 
amends for Avhich, and to guard against the evil eflects of long 
fasting and exposure, our commanding officer treated us the next 
morning to about a gill of brandy each, which we all considered 
very liberal and generous in him, and in turn drank his health 
to the tune of a deep dram, as we turned ofi' many a teeming 



96 SCOTT S CAMPAIGN 

bumper, declaring at the same time, most vociferously, that he 
should be promoted the very first vacancy. 

We were aroused about three o'clock in the morning, but 
from' some cause or other, we were not able to get off till 
about daylight. We had a bad night's rest, very little supper, 
and no breakfast; but the brandy worked wonders upon the 
feelings of many of us, causing us to forget our hunger, and 
making us all feel as brave as Cesar, and as large as field 
officers. I never before felt the force and beauty of that admi- 
rable sentiment of S >lomon, "Let the poor man drink and for- 
get his poverty," We had proceeded about five miles from 
camp when we mot some Mexicans going to town with a train 
of packed mules, loaded with bread, v\rhcn Colonel Butler, of 
the Palmetto regiment, ordered the drivers to stop them, when 
he caused the famished troops to be bountifully supplied with 
the staff of life, which we eat with good appetites and many 
thanks to our brave and generous Colonel. 

About ten o'clock, we reached the summit of a high hill, 
which overlooks the city of Puebla, and from which \ve+.ad a 
beautiful view of the castles, domes, and spires of that ancient 
and beautiful city of the angels, while in the magnificent array 
of churches, theatres, colleges and convents, with mosque and 
minaret, and thousand steeples, it seemed to sleep in silent but 
princely grandeur, upon the soft velvet bosom of the green 
valley that lay beneath our feet. And at 12 o'clock precisely, 
on Saturday, the l5ih day of May, 1847, the van of tlie invad- 
ing army of tiie North, with the gallant and intrepid Worth at 
its head, entered in triumph and without opposition, the south 
gate of the city of Puebla, and marched to the Grand Plaza 
fronting the Cathedral, where they stacked their arms, and sup- 
plied themselves vi'ith water from the fountain. This fountain 
appears to have been formed out of beautifully carved basaltic 
stone, surmounted by some half dozen full lite likeness of a 
species of dogs or tigers, v/ith wide extended mouths, out of 
which the water spouted in every direction into the basin below. 

I thought I had seen large masses of human beings before, 
but I never saw a shoreless sea of living, moving, animated 
matter, composed of crowding thousands of men, women and 
children, ebbing and flowing like the agitated waves of the 
ocean. From the time that our lines entered the outer gate, 
till we reached the Grand Plaza, every street, lane and alley, 
door, window and house top, were crowded and jammed with 
solid columns of human beings, to the depth of two squares in 
every diiection, as far as the eye could reach. As I cast my 
eyes round, I almost shuddered for Ihe fate of our little army, 



IN MEXICO. 97 

although I saw no arms or warlike implements of any kind, nor 
any thing like a military organization, yet the immense cloud o! 
hostile citizens that hovered round our little band in dark and 
portentous gloom, was altogether suflicient to have crushed our 
whole ibrce into utter annihilation, without the aid of any other 
arms than clubs and rocks. A.p.d it was not on account of any 
good feelings which were cherished for us on their part, that 
they did not avail themselves of the advantages which circum- 
stances had thrown in their way, by which they could have 
completely demalished the advance of the army of invasion, 
before succor could possibly have reached them. For I after- 
wards learned thtit all they wanted was a bold and daring leader, 
who could have given direction and impetus to public feeling, 
and led the already excited populace, in a united and organised 
body, against the heart of the invading foe. None of us doubted 
that the spirit was there ; the bitter feeling of enmity and hatred 
which they had been taught to cherish from the tiaie the first 
hostile gun was fired on the banks of the Rio Grande, was 
then burning in their bosoms like the pent up fires of their own 
volcanic mountains; and thoy longed for an opportunity oi 
quenching those fires with the warm heart's blood that might 
flow from the stricken bosoms of a slaughtered American army. 
But no modern Moses rose up to lead them forth — no martial 
clarion's thrilling notes sounded to the charge — no battle cry 
peals it thunder tones upon the patriot's ear, urging the infuri- 
ated hosts of Anahuac's chivalry against the serried columns o, 
the advancing {oc. The tlov.'er of their army had fallen — their 
bravest and best troops had gone down before the wasting and 
murderous fire of the Anglo-Saxon, like grass before the 
reaper — their favorite chieftain had been routed, and was then 
on the wing, flying for safety, with a fow panic stricken troops, 
that had rallied around their leader in his fallen fortunes, bend- 
ing his hurried steps towards the capital, not even daring to 
look behind him. 

The city of Puebla contains nearly one hundred thousand 
inhabitants, (en thousand of whom at least were able to bear 
arms; and these, backed and supported by a hostile population 
of "eighty thousand, were standing quietly by, and looking on, 
when the gates of the city were opened, and an army of four 
thousand two hundred men entered the angel-trod streets of thif 
celestial city, and took peaceable possession of it v.ithoutfirinf: 
a gun. Many of the citizens and forei«'n residents, in speaking 
afterwards of our entry into the city, ackno\Adedged themselvct 
perfectly astonished at the cool and careless indiiierence tha* 
seemed to characterize every movement of the American army. 
5 



98 SCOTT S CAMPAIGN 

while such imminent danger encompassed them on all sides. 
They actun i!y stacked their arms In the plaza and marched off* 
to the foun ain to get water, and then passed on to the market 
to buy brejid and fruit, while those who remained to guard our 
arms lay d wn and went to sleep, and at the same time we were 
surrounded in every direction hy hostile thousands of bloody, 
minded foe.-, who Avere anxiously Availing an opportunity to 
wreak thei ■ vengeance upon the invaders of their soil. But 
this very spirit of apparent rash and reckless imprudence might 
have even ually proved our strongest safe-guard, as it had a 
tendency t teach our enemies the light in which we viewed 
the prowe.-s of their arms, and the unbounded confidence we 
had in our nvn skill and courage, which always rose paramount 
to the thici'cning dangers that surrounded us. 



CHAPTER IX. 

The following brief sketch of "Za Cu'ulad de los Angelas'''' 
is given b, an English traveller who has recently published a 
history of tiis travels in Mexico: — "Puebla, the capital of the 
intendenc; of that name, is one of the finest cities in Mexico. 
Its streets are wide and regular, and the houses and public 
buildings ire substantially built, and in good taste. The 
population, which is estimated at between eighty and one hun- 
dred thou, and, is the most vicious and demoralized in the 
republic, it was founded by the Spaniard.? in 1531, on the 
site of a sn all village of Cholula Indians ; and, from its position, 
an^ the fer ility of the surrounding counlry, was unsurpassed 
by any oti er city in the Spanish Mexican dominions. The 
province i rich in the remains of Mexican antiquities. The 
Ibrtificatioi s of Tlascalan, and the pyramids of Cholula, are 
worthy of- visit, and the noble cypress of Atlixco is seventy-six 
feet in circumference, and according to Humboldt, the oldest 
vegetable .nonument in the world." Gcnei-al Tliompson, in 
his "Rcco lections of Mexico," speaks of this city in the follow- 
ing terms :-— "Puebla is a beautiful city, with lofty houses, built 
in the pure :t style of architecture, and bi-oad and remarkably 
clean stret s. Its police is greatly superior to that of Mexico. 
The Cathc Iral of Puebla is a magnificent edifice, which has 
been said, though hardly with justice, to rival the Cathedral in 
Ptiexico. '. 'uebla is the Lowell of Mexico. The principal cot- 
ton manuflirtories are located there, and some of them in very 
successful (-peration, which can be said of very few others." 



IN MEXICO. 99 

Every foreigner who has ever visited the city of Puebla has 
expressed himself pleased with it. In fact, it could scarcely be 
otherwise, for its beautiibl location, and the neat and tastetlil 
structure of the houses, are of such a nature as to r-lrike every 
beholder with admiration and delight. It is situated on a beau- 
tiful level plain, stretching itself out from the rivo- Nasca on 
the east, towards the green and fertile rallies, which extend to 
the foot of a lofty range of mountains on the west, among which 
rises the lofiy peak of Popocatapetl, around whose diadem of 
snow is wrapped the clouds of heaven. Some o;' the finest 
and best cultivated flirms in Mexico are to be found in the 
valley of Puebia, which mainly supplies the immense popula- 
tion of that city with the stafi" of life. Vast heriis of sheep, 
goats, and cows, are always to be seen grazing upon the green 
vales and extensive prairies beyond the suburbs of the city, 
from whence they are driven to market, and withoi t any other 
care or feeding, are butchered ibr the shops, and mi ke the most 
delicious beet and mutton in the world. The area covered by 
the city of Puebia is about two miles square, and i - almost as 
level as a pavement. It is regularly and beautifu iy laid out, 
and all the streets cross each other at right angi> 5, and are 
broad and clean, and paved with large blocks of gi.mite about 
eighteen inches square, and are laid slanting frrn the side 
walks towards the middle of the street, which foriis a reser- 
voir for the purpose of carrying off the water in a body. The 
culverts on the cross streets are spanned over the <.aps on the 
side-walk with beautiful stone footways, so that ore can pass 
through the length and breadth of the city perfectl • dry shed, 
Avhen the middle of the street is perfectly flooded -vith water. 
And every time it rains, the collection of filth whi< h naturally 
accumulates in all large cities, is swept away by th • current of 
the water, leaving the street perfectly neat and clean, thereby 
adding much to the health and appearance of tl e city, and 
saving a deal of trouble to the police and scaven ^ers. The 
usual collections of mud and filthy ponds of wate?' which are 
so common about the large cities of this country, are totally 
unknown there, as the whole face of the earth, froai centre to 
suburb, is completely covered with a solid stone pi vement, so 
that the vast floods of water which fall there during the rainy 
season, instead of washing up banks of mud and sand, have 
directly the opposite tendency, and never fail to leave the 
streets in every respect cleaner, and in abetter com ition. 

The Grand Plaza, near the centre of which stanis the Ca- 
thedral, covers an area of several acres, and is sur'-ounded by 
lines of stone posts, connected by large, heavy chains ; it is also 



100 SCOTT S CAMPAIGN 

uartlv enclosed by a wall of brick and niorlar, with seats on the 
inside tor the use of the market Avomen. 

Having given the observations of two distinjzuishcd writers 
of Mexican history, upon the city of Puebla. I will close my 
references upon that subject with a few paragraphs from the 
able and graphic pen of Mr. Brantz Mayer, whoso work, 
"JMexico as it was and as it is,** has been so universally read 
and admired. He says: — ''jMy recollections of Puebla (com- 
paring it novv^ with Mexico) are lar more agreeable than those 
of the Capital. There is an air of neatness and tidiness ob- 
servable every ^^here. The streets arc broad, well paved with 
liat stones, and have a washed and cleanly look. The crowd 
of people is far less than in the capital, and tliey are not so 
ragged and miserable. House rents arc one-half or one-third 
those of Moxico. and the dwellings are usually inhabited by 
one family: inst churches and convents seem rather more plenti- 
ful in proportion to the inhabitaiits. The friars are less numer- 
ous, and the secular clergy greater. A small stream skirts tlic 
eastern side of PLtebla. aflbrding a largo water-power for 
manulacturing purposes. On its banks a public walk has been 
planted with rows of trees, among which the paths meander, 
■while a neat fountain throws up its waters in the midst of them. 
The views from this retreat, in the evening, are charriingly 
pictui'csque over the eastern ]>lai!i. On the western side of 
Puebla lie tiie extensive piles of buildings, belonging to the 
convent of St. Francis, situated opposite the entrance of the 
Alameda — a quiet and retired garden walk to which the 
cavaliers and donzellas retire before sun-set, for a drive in view 
of the volcanoes of Istazihautl and Popocatapetl, which bound 
the western j)rospect with tho-ir tops of eternal snow. Near 
the centre of the city is the great square. It is surrounded on 
two sides by edifices erected on arches, through which the 
population circulates as at Pologna. On the northern side is 
the palace of the Governor, now lilled with troops : and directly 
in front of this is the Cathedral, equal perhaps in size to that 
of Mexico, but, being elevated upon a platform about ten feet 
above the level of the square, it is better relieved and stands 
out from the surrounding buildings with more boldness antl 
grandeur. This church is, in its details and arrangements, 
the most magniticent in the republic; and although not desirous 
to occupy yoiu'time with a description of religious ediiices, yet, 
with a view of atTording some idea of the wealth of this im- 
portant establishment in a country where the priesthood is still 
very powerful, I will venture to remark on a few of those objects 
which strike the eye of a transient traveller. It is about this 



IN MEXICO. 101 

Cathedral, I am told, that there is a legend of Piiebla, which, 
states that while ia inocciio of" l)iiil(lin<!f, it gained mysteriously 
ill height (luring (he night a;; niiicli a;; the masons had wrought 
during llie day. This was said to ba the work of Angels, and 
hence the city has acquired tlie holy name of "]'uel)la de los 
Angeles," Bo this, however, as it may, the chi.rch, though 
neither exactly worthy of divine cnnccptiun and execution, nor 
a miracle of art, is extremely tasteful, and one of the best 
specimens of architecture I saw in Mexico. The material is 
blue basalt; the stones are squared by the chisei ; the joints 
neatly pointed; and the whole has the appearance of great 
solidity, being supported by massive buttresses, and terminated 
at the west by loiiy towers, filled with bells of swcc t and variea 
tones-" 

Mr. Mayer is certainly somewhat mistaken in supposing the 
Cathedral abPuebla to be equal in sixo to that of (he capital. 
It may bo as largo as the principal apartment of the latter, 
which contains the main altai- and choir, and which, one would 
be apt to think, on first entering it, that it constituted the whole 
building. But it must be remembered, that besides tliis, thero 
are thirteen other ditferent chapels, or apartments, fi>r public 
worsliip contained wit!iin (hat vast pile of huildings constituting 
the Cathedral in the Grand Plaza at the city of Mexico. I 
was informed that the one at Piiebla, with its furniture, cost 
fourteen millions of dollars, while that at the city cost ninety 
millions; and if this be the case, it would go far to establish 
the idea that there is a very material difl'ercnce even in the size 
of the two edifices. 

On entering the Cathedral at Puebla, and casting the eyes 
above, the head becomes dizzy from contemplating the immense 
height of the massive pillars that sustain and uphold the 
spacious and lofty arched dome of the building, from which, 
and in (he centre, is suspended the ponderous and magnificent 
chandelier, a large portion of which is composed of unalloyed 
gold and silver and precious stones, and is of several tons 
weight, the immense cost of which will be left as a matter of 
conjecture, for the benefit of the reader's own private specula- 
tion. The columns and the altar, on particular occasions, are 
hung with a rich flowing drapery of red silk velvet, extending 
from the floor to the dome, presenting a spectacle grand and 
beautiful in the extreme, and which must re(|uire several 
thousands of yards of that costly material to accomplish. But 
the object which would bo most apt to strike the attention and 
win the admiration of (ivery beholder on first entering the Ca- 
thedral, is the full-life-likeness of the Virgin Mary, which stands 



102 scott's campaign 

•on tlie rlgh' of the altar, in all its rich and varied degrees of 
loveliness pnd attraction. Her dress is composed of the richest 
silk, ernbro dered with threads of gold, with dependent "strings 
of orient pt arls at random strung," hanging in profuse clusters 
from the nc :k, and extending almost to her feet; while on her 
marble while brow reposes a glittering crown of massive gold, 
studded wit,i the most precious stones of every size and hue ; 
and round her waist shone in dazzling brilliancy, a blazing zone 
of diamond?. 

There is also, about the altar and enclosing the platform, a 
Lalustrade >r railing, (candelabras,) composed of a compound 
gf silver an 1 gold, of more than a thousand pounds weight, and 
of remarkable richness and brilliancy: and which an English 
mining company proposed to replace with solid silver ot the 
same size, und pay half a million of dollars besides. Just in 
front of the altar is the burial place for the Bishops; and I 
noticed several marble slabs laid upon a level with the floor, 
and enclosfd with a lattice work of iron, upon which were in- 
scribed in letters of gold, the epitaphs of several deceased 
Prelates, w! ose silent remains repose beneath, near the sacred 
spot, and in the very building, where their lives had been spent 
in the sen ice of the church. 

There is something peculiarly solemn and impressive in the 
ceremonies attending the celebration of mass in the Roman 
church; bui more especially, I think, in Catholic countries, 
where the service is attended with more pomp and array than 
that of the same church in Protestant countries. The appa- 
rent zeal and sincerity, together with the solemn and regular 
uniformity v/hich so strikingl}' characterizes that ancient and 
popular mode of worship, are apt to impress the mind of the 
beholder with feelings and sentiments of a serious and devo- 
tional character. I have entered the Cathedral at Puebka on 
a Sabbath morning, and found it crowded with, at least, five 
thousand persons, of all ages, sexes, and conditions, from the 
scarlet-i-ob:^d Prelate to the beggar from the streets, all on their 
knees, wit'i their faces turned in the same direction, humming 
their prayers, or chanting the various church services peculiar 
to that ord:r, with a solemn seriousness, and a becoming re- 
verence, which showed that each one considered himself in the 
house of God, and in the presence of some superior and over- 
ruling Pov.'er- I have never yet entered one of their churches 
during the hours of service, without having my feelings inspired 
with a kind of religious awe, and devotional frame of mind, 
which I coidd not well define ; and I am very certain that I 
never saw a Mexican, however low or degraded might have 



IN MEXICO. 



103 



been his condition, smile while in church, or be guilty of any 
impropriety whatever. Their reverence for their churches 
seems to approach almost to idolatry; they regard the very 
portals as sacred, and never by any means pass one while the 
doors are open, without meekly pulling off th;ir hats and carry- 
ing them in their hands till they are completely beyond it. It 
is not for mo to say how tnuch irregularity may mark their 
conduct while in the street, or at their daily occupations, yet 
when they enter the churches they lay aside their levity and 
lightness and put on the saint, and act it out with that dignity 
and Christian decorum v/hich they scrupulously observe, and 
never violate after passing the sacred threshold. I have seen 
Jitth; children, who were scarcely large enough to follow their 
mothers to church, cross themselves at the door with the santa 
agua, and then kneel and cross themselves again, and go 
through all the ceremonies, as correctly and with as much devo- 
tion and solemnity as those of maturer years. 

I think a strict adherence to all the rules and regidations of 
this church would have a manifest tendency to promote early 
rising, as well as active business habits, as I remember often 
to have seen the bright-eyed Senoras and Senoritas tripping 
to church before sun-rise, with their blooming morning faces, 
and quick and jaunty steps, hastening to greet the first mild 
beams of the King of day, upon their knees before the sacred 
altar. How true is that beautiful sentiment, that if religion 
was banished from the world, its last fortification would be 
woman's heart? I noticed the perfectly democratic principles 
which the Catholic mode of worship recognizes in that cout.try, 
and the perfect levelling system which it fosters and inculcates 
in all its dcpartm mts, except the priestly office. I have often 
seen the proudest and fairest donnas, who could boast the blood 
of Castile's ancient line, dressed in the richest silks and laces, 
and sparkling in gold and diamonds, kneeling side by side, 
their garments touching, with the fdthy lepero, who begged the 
scanty pittance that sustained life, or cleaned the streets for the 
consideration of a few coppers, with scarcely rags enough to 
cover his nakedness. 

It is said that the city of Puebla alone contains seventy-two 
churches, thirty colleges and convents, and seventeen hundred 
monks, priests, and friars, with all the ordinary appurtenances 
of the retinue of that ancient and holy order. I think the gen- 
eral average of bells is about twelve to a church, with some 
ranging as high as forty-eight, and at times it appears that they 
are all ringing at once. Every toll of bells has a particular 
meaning, which is perfectly understood by the citizens, from 



104 scott's campaign 

"the oldest inhabitant" down to the child of five years old. 
Sometimes they will stop in the street and cross themselves; at 
other times, at the single toll of a particular bell, the whole 
population will fall upon their knees, and remain in that posi- 
tion tor about a minute, when the same bell will toll again, at 
which they will all rise at the same instant, and go about their 
various occupations. I have beeri in the crowded market, 
where thousands upon thousands were busily engaged in buying 
and selling, and arranging their articles of merchandize, min- 
gled with a hum of voices that almost pained the ear with its 
thousand blended tones, when the bell would toll the hour for 
prayer, and in an instant every soul in that vast concourse 
would be upon their knees, and not a whisper heard, but all as 
still and silent as the house of death. I happened to be passing 
a street near the Grand Plaza one day, when my attention was 
arrested by a couple of arrlcros, who were earnestly engaged 
ill a hand-to-hand tight just across the way. Curiosity prompted 
me to stop and see it out, but just as the engagement was be- 
coming serious, and the combatants v.'ere planting their blows 
thick and fast near the tonderest and most vulnerable points, 
the sania campana oracion, or holy bell of prayer, tolled the 
hour of devotion; warned by its solemn sound, the two liellige- 
rent parties instantly stopped, as if by common consent, and 
fell upon their knees, where they remained in a devotional 
attitude till the second toil, when they arose and finished the 
fight. I thought this about as strong an example of the force of 
habit as I had ever had the pleasure of witnessing, for it was not 
probable lliat it coukl have been the force of religious obliiiation. 
The cemetery, or public burying ground at Puebla, is situated 
in a beautiful secluded spot, on the souliiern suburbs of the city, 
and is well worthy a place in the folio of every traveller. It is 
surrounded, or rather composed, of a substantial and beautiful 
brick wall about lifteen feet high, and encloses about five acres 
of ground, which is most tastefully laid ofV in walks, and 
planted with flowers and shruljbery of almost endless variety. 
The walls are about ten feet thick, on the inside of which are 
formed shelves or holes, ranging one above another for five 
deep, the two upper tier or rows arc made short, for the purpose 
of fitting the coffins of young children and infants. The cavi- 
ties in the wall are formed in the shape of a cofiin, and just the 
proper length, in which it is inserted with the fi)ot foremost, and 
the head fronting the inside. The apperture at the head is then 
closed by a small block of wood, stone, or marble, according to 
the wealth, grade, or standing of the deceased, on which are 
engraved the epitaphs. Here perhaps may rest the dead of 



IN MEXICO. 



105 



past centuries, and here, the generations of future ages may 
come to lay their bones, in this colossal mausoleum, where 
thousands sleep together in death who never met in life, 

-"'Tis here all meet, 



The shivering Icelander, and the sun-burnt Moor; 

Men of all climes that never met before; 

And of all creeds, the Jew, the Turk, the Christian. 

Here friends and foes 
Lie close, unmindful of tlieir former fucds. 
The lawn-robt'd prelate, and plain presbyter. 
Ere while they stood aloof as shy to meet, 
Familiar mingle here, like sister streams. 
That some rude interposing rock had split." 

The market is a place of sufficient curiosity to attract the 
attention of a foreigner, as he will there find, in the greatest 
profusion, every thing that the country produces, from a cocoa 
nut to a carrot. It occupies that portion of the Grand Plaza 
which lies east of the Cathedral, and covers about one half of 
the public square. Here the market women collect at about 
nine o'clock in the morning, and remain frequently till nine 
o'clock at night, where they offer for sale every kind of meats, 
soups, fruits and vegetables, with almost everything else in the 
line of eatables, that the mind of man can conceive. They 
erect small portable booths in the market square for the pur- 
pose of protecting their persons and merchandize from the sun 
and rain ; and at night they light the market with torches of fat 
pine, which are kindled upon elevated platforms, or held or car- 
ried, as the case may be, by crowds oi mucliaclios, who swarm 
the streets by day and night in quest of any employment which 
may bring them a k\\ iJacos. 

It is very pleasant, though not altogether safe, to take a stroll 
in the plaza about nine o'clock in the evening, which, at that 
hour, presents quite a beautiful and picturesque appearance. 
The market fires are all lighted, and throwing their lurid and 
flickering glare upon the particolored and unique costumes of 
the peasantry, who always attend in great crowds, either as 
vendors or vendees, besides a host of idle loafers, and gentlemen 
of elegant leisure, wdio general!}' congregate about the market 
at that hour, as a place of general rendezvous, before com- 
mencing their nightly carousal. Those of the latter class are 
generally haijitcd in their gayest and most sho"'y habilaments, 
with their large heavy zarapfs thrown carelessly about their 
shoulders, and completely enveloping the breast and arms, and 
beneath which they are in the habit of concealing whatever 
little articles they may illegally pick up about the market or 



106 scott's campaign 

elsewhere. 1 have known them, in cases of extreme neces- 
sity, to carry a full grown sheep beneath their blankets through 
the crowded streets, without detection. Tlieir sombreros (hats) 
are very heavy, being made of straw or wool, and covered with 
a thick glossy oil-cloth, which renders them perlectly water- 
proof; they use, as a substitute for a band, two rolls about ihe 
size of a man's finger, which is covered with a kind of silver 
lace, and tied at the ends with green or blue ribVjon ; they also 
use two silver plates, one on each side of the hat, about the 
size of a quarter of a dollar, with tassels or tags of the same 
material depending. Their pantaloons are frequently made of 
black velvet, with the legs open to the knee, and very often to 
the hip, and ornamented with rows of silver bullet buttons, sus- 
pended by links of the same material; they use no suspenders, 
but in lieu of them, a red silk or cotton sash is worn tightly 
about the waist, the ends of which hang suspended from each 
hip. 'Ihey also wear large cotton or linen drawers of snowy 
whiteness and hug? dimensions, and it is hard to tell, at a short 
distance, which is the nether garment. The most ordinary 
comestibles that are sold in the market are the frijohs, or 
boiled beans, and tortillas, which are a kind of corn pancake 
without salt or seasoning of any kind, and chile soup, which is 
made principally of red-pepper, boiled with beef or mutton; the 
pepper makes it look as red as wine, and although rather hot 
for uninitiated palates, yet it is quite a savory dish when one 
becomes accustomed to it. The tortilla is made of corn soaked 
in warm water impregnated with lye, until it becomes soft, 
when it is ground by tlie won)en upon a hand mill, which pro- 
cess, instead of making meal, forms it into a lump of dough; it 
is then made into thin cakes, and baked in a large earthen pan 
or ladle made for the purpose. 

A large portion of the lower classes take their meals regu- 
larly in the market. A glass of pulque, half a dozen tortillas, 
and a plate of chile soup, taken twice a day, is quite enough 
for them, and are the greatest luxuries of which they have any 
conception; and with a few tlacos worth of each daily, they are 
happy and contented. Spoons are by no means in common use, 
and what few they have are rough wooden ones ; but as a sub- 
stitute for these indispensable articles of kitchen furniture, they 
break, or rather tear oft' a small piece of tortilla, and twisting 
it up in the shape of a spoon, dip it full of chile and swallow 
spoon and all together; the same process is repeated every 
mouthful until the repast is finished. I have frequently seen 
whole families, consisting of some eight or ten persons, sitting 
on the pavement round a bowl of chile, with their frijoles, tor- 



tN MEXICO. 107 

tillas, and pulque, making a most hearty and luxurious meal, 
which, when finished, they would rise up, and with a significant 
grunt of pleasure and satisfaction, would separate, and each 
one go about his daily avocation. 

I have very frequently, by invitation, taken a seat on the 
ground with them and shared their frugal repast, which they 
never fail to divide with great liberality, giving the stranger 
the preference in every thing. 1 have often enjoyed those 
"accidental lent dinners" very much, seated the while beside 
mine host's dark-eyed daughter, who always divided her last 
tortilla con. miicha gJisto, with her extrangcro amigo, (strange 
friend). I always left with many attestations of thankfulness, 
but never without shaking hands with the whole group, which 
it would have been unpardonable not to do. 

When they butcher a hog, beef, or mutton for market, they 
never throw away one particle of flesh, but carefully husband 
the whole of it. I have seen even the hoofs, horns, and entrails, 
and sometimes the naked bones, exposed for sale. From sun 
rise in the morning till about nine o'clock, you will find, at 
almost every street and corner, a woman or girl with ajar of 
alole, which is a kind of gruel or tasteless soup, thickened with 
pulverized rice, without salt or seasoning of any kind, which 
the Mexicans all seem very fond of, and which is sold at about 
a ilao a pint. It is considered a very wholesome diet among 
the Mexicans, and is made chiefly for the lower classes, who 
are not able to aflbrd diilce pan (sweet cakes) and chocolate, 
which the more fashionable generally take in the morning be- 
fore leaving their rooms. The aloJe and chocolate answer the 
purpose, with them, of what we call early breakfast, and then 
they take no further nourishment till eleven or twelve o'clock, 
when they have something more substantial, including meats, 
vegetables, &c.; but even these are partaken of in very small 
quantities; and I have often thought that people of this country 
would starve on the very limited allowance which a Mexican 
can subsist upon and have plenty. They are generally very 
careful of their health, and subsist mostly on those diets, how- 
ever unpleasant to the taste, which ihey conceive tend more 
directly to promote it. The aiole, for instance, is considered an 
antidote as well as a preventive of almost every disease, and 
hence its common use, for I am sure they could not be induced 
to use it from any delightful flavor which it possesses. And so 
of the chile soup, pulque, pepper, garlic, and onions, all of 
which are considered great preservatives of health, and hence 
they are used to the exclusion of greater delicacies. 

The Mexicans appear to possess a kind of innate politeness 



108 scott's campaign 

and suavity of manners, which even the lower classes never 
compromise or forget on any occasion. If you meet a friend in 
the street, with whom you may have had the pleasure of a short 
acquaintance, he approaches 3'ou with his hat off, a friendly 
smile upon his countenance, and his right hand extended for 
the purpose of a friendly shake. He will often take your hand 
between both of his, and give it a most Platonic squeeze, all 
the time muttering his familiar salutation, co?He tislcd cahaUcro, 
buenos dins, dec, and not unfrequently he will throw his arms 
about your neck, and give you a close embrace; but such 
friendly demonstrations as those must generally be warranted 
by a somewhat protracted and intimate acquaintance. I re- 
member, while spending a day in the city of Puebla on the 
way of our return to the States, that I happened to step into a 
pulque shop where I had been in the habit of visiting very fre- 
quently during my firmer stay at that place ; as soon as I enter- 
ed, the fair proprietress of the shop instantly recognized me as 
one of her former customers and friends, and rushed towards 
me with outstretched arms, exclaiming at the same time, "es 
mio amigo viviente," (is my friend yet living!) and saluted me 
with a friendly embrace, and a kind of sisterly beso, which she 
kindly imprinted upon my cheek. Such demonstrations of polite 
friendship as this would probably have been considered particu- 
larly awkward, if not ridiculous, in any of our fashionable cities 
at home, but such things are looked upon there as occurring in 
the ordinary course of human events. And although this inter- 
view, which I was disposed to look upon as rather affectionately 
unique, took place in the midst of a crowded room, yet it did 
not attract attention, and it was not noticed as any thing out of 
the ordinary course of things. Of course I returned the kind 
senora's very flattering manifestations of distinguished regard, 
including the embrace and the kiss too; if I had not, it would 
have been considered as extremely rude in me, and perhaps my 
impoliteness would have dcprivpd me of the pleasure of being 
so hospitably received in the future. 

I have seen large heaps of shelled corn exposed in the market 
for sale, some of the piles would be composed entirely of white 
corn, some of red, some yellow, and some blue, but not a grain 
of the difierent kinds v/ere mixed, near which vendors were 
seated with small measures in their hands, and from whom you 
could purchase any amount, from a pint to a bushel, or even a 
barrel. On Sundays the markets are much more numerously 
attended, the rancheros coming in from the countrj' on that day, 
fx'om ten to fifteen, and even twenty miles, bringing with them 
on their backs and on packed mules, the products of their farms, 



In MEXICO. 109 

dairies, gardens, and poultry yards, which they generally sell 
at very high prices. I have known them to sell butter at a 
dollar and a quarter a pound, and chickens at seventy-five cents 
each. 

The most valuable coin known among the circulating medium 
of Mexico, is the Spanish doubloon, which is worth about 
fifteen dollars, and the smallest is the tlaco, which is worth 
about one and a half of oar copper cents ; the next in size is 
the medio, which is four tlacos, and answers to our six and a 
quarter cents ; the next is the real, which is worth eight tlacos, 
and answers to our twelve and a half cents ; and the balance of 
the dollar is counted by dos reale.s, ires reales, quatro reales, 
&c. The copper coin, or tlaco, is of verv great advantage to 
Mexican trade, and could not now be easily dispensed with ; 
without it, the large and extensive revenue derived from the 
retail of pulque would be, in a great measure, lost to the 
country, because a quartillo's worth, which is the next smallest 
coin, would buy more than a man would wish to drink at once, 
consequently the retail price would have to be raised, or the 
extensive sale of that popular and nourishing drink be very 
much curtailed. But this is only one instance which is brought 
to prove the immense value of the t aco; many others might be 
mentioned; almost every article that is sold in the market, and 
a great manv in the smaller shops and stores, can be bought in 
quantities of a tlaco's worth, and hence the poor lepero who 
brings his produce to market and sells it for a few coppers, can 
spend them and supply his wants, and thereby contribute his 
mite to the revenues of the country. 

It is not at all unfrequent for a senor to pawn his zerape, or a 
senora her reboza, for a glass of pulque, when tliey do not 
happen to have the necessary amount of dinero about them, 
and return the next day and redeem them, as the credit system 
is unknown in Mexico, and the money or its equivalent has 
always to be advanced upon the spot. There were some few 
instances in which the benefit of credit was extended to the 
soldiers of the American army 1)y Mexican merchants, and I 
am happy to say that the confidence thus reposed in them was 
never betrayed, but in every instance was sustained by prompt 
and regular payment, which was noticed and appreciated by 
the merchants thus indulging them. I think the Mexican mer- 
chants and clerks excel those of almost any other country, in 
active and energetic business habits ; they seem to be com- 
pletely master of every department of mercantile affairs, which, 
when blended with their extremely kind, sociable, and accom- 
modating manners, renders it a peculiar pleasure to deal witji 



110 scott's campaign 

them. It is impossible to Jew them ; if you do not conclude 
to pay the price they ask, you had as well leave the store at 
once, for they generally ask just what they intend to take, and 
nothing more; and the price of every thing seems to be so 
uniformly established, and so well known by the trading part of 
the community, that they frequently throw down the money 
upon the counter before calling for the article. These remarks 
refer more particularly to the larger stores, and more extensive 
mercantile establishments ; for in the market and in the smaller 
shops they frequently ask exhorbitant prices, and can be beat 
down by the purchasers, as they are generally compelled to sell 
their merchandize for what it will bring. 

The store rooms of even the finest establishments are gen- 
erally small, not being more than one half as large as is com- 
mon in thi* country; Initthe shelves are always well filled with 
the finest and most costly materials, the sale of which is greatly 
facilitated by the rich and extravagant style of dress that uni- 
versally obtains among the higher classes. Lady clerks and 
merchants are not at all uncommon; the smaller stores and 
shops being almost entirely managed by them, and very often 
you will find them behind the counters of the more extensive 
establTshments, and whose sparkling eyes and winning smiles 
gain many a valuable customer, and add wings to the sale of 
silks, satins, and laces. The families of the better classes 
generally reside on the second floor, while the basement rooms 
are occupied as shops and stores ; and where the house consists 
of but one story, the family occupies the back room, or ante- 
chamber, from which they pass through the store room into the 
street, and which would be considered in this country a matter 
of great trouble and inconvenience, but with them it is decidedly 
a convenient position, as the wife or daughter, as the case may 
be, can attend to her household affairs in the parlor and watch 
the store at the same time. 

I not only learned from reliable sources, but became satisfied 
of the fact from my own observation, that the occupation of a 
druggist is the most lucrative employment that can be followed 
in the towns and larger cities of Mexico. There is less com- 
petition in this, than in almost any other branch of business, 
which, when combined with the very high prices, and rapidly 
increasing demand for drugs, renders it a safe investment for 
capital, and a sure and speedy mode of accumulating large pro- 
fits. It is not at all uncommon to see the large and extensive 
drug establishments, both in Puebla and the city of Mexico, 
perfectly crowded from morning till night, by every class of 
citizens, all waiting anxiously for their turn to be served, while 



IN MEXICO. Ill 

six or eight clerks are busily employed in distributing the all- 
healing sanitive to the variously afflicted multitude. It appears 
like almost every person in Mexico takes medicine in some 
way or other, either as a preventive or a cure for the many 
accumulating dise:ises of that tropical climate, and yet they are 
excessively careful ot their health, and their bills of mortality 
comparatively small. 

Crowds of Indian girls throng the streets and markets daily 
from the surrounding country, bringing baskets of paadamice 
(corn cakes) for sale, which they carry on their backs, and are 
confined by a strap, which passes over the head or round the 
neck and shoulders. When passing to and from market, they 
never walk, but always move in a kind of turkey-trot, and can 
generally make better speed than an ordinary travelling horse; 
and when carrying burdens, they incline the bod}^ forward in a 
stooping position, sometimes bowed almost to the groimd. 
Their dress is frequently composed of one single garment, and 
that only extends from the waist to the knees; sometimes the 
chemise and reboza would supply the deficiency, but it is not at 
all uncommon to sec them without either. They sit in rows on 
the sides, and at the corners of the street, during the day, and 
cry their cakes to the passers by in a kind of song or whining 
doggerel, without otie moment's intermission, until their stock 
is expended; they then take the proceeds of the day's sale and 
buy a glass of mescal (brandy,) some pulque, chile soup, and a 
few candles, and then slinging their empty baskets about their 
shoulders, they set out f)r their miserable huts in the mountains, 
where, by the light of their candles, and the exhilerating effects 
of the mescal, they spend the night in preparing their bread lur 
the next day's market. And yet amid all this perpetual round 
of hard and incessant labor, which yields them barely a sub- 
sistence, combined with the most squalid poverty, they seem 
happy and contented, and chatter and laugh, and sing their 
evening songs, while journeying homewards and thinking over 
the proceeds of the morrow's sale of pandamice. And I am 
bound to believe that there is more happiness and contentment 
among the Mexican peasantry than those of the same condition 
in any other country in the world. Living as they do, in a 
country which is free alike from the scorching heats of summer 
and the rigorous snows of winter, rendering shelter or clothing 
scarcely necessary, while the spontaneous productions of that 
most fertile of all countries, are almost sufficieni; to sujiply the 
wants of the population, who have not a single wish or aspira- 
tion beyond the very limited sphere of their own immediate 
necessities. 



112 scott's campaign 

Two of the most marked peculiarities which distinguish the 
dress of the Mexican ladies of all classes, and from which they 
are never known to depart, are, that they never wear bonnets 
or have sleeves in their dresses; their plump and well-formed 
arms are considered a very great addition to (heir beauty, and 
are alwa3fs naked unless covered by the shawl orrezoba. But 
in order to see every beauty and charm they posses^", including 
face, feature, form, and figure, all displayed to the best advant- 
age, you must see one of Aztec's dark-eyed daughters, or a 
blooming maid of Castile, on her gaily caparisoned mustang, 
and habited in a complete riding dress, the rich flowing folds of 
which almost sweep the ground, with cap and plum.e, and 
accompanied by a dashing young cabellero, taking an evening 
ride along the clattering street, or galloping over the Paseo or 
Alameda, with her dark eyes flashing with excitement, and her 
ribbons and waving plumes fluttering in the air. It is then 
that her charms are irresistible, and all the innate perfection of 
her loveliness is displayed to an extent that makes one feel 
vexed and disappointed because ho docs not understand enough 
of her ov.'H native dialect to enjoy to the fullest extent the plea- 
sures of her thrilling society, and whisper, in her vernacular 
tongue, the soft low tones of love's own language. 

The horsemen frequently carry their equestrian exploits far 
beyond v.'hat would l>o tolerated in this country. I have often 
seen them spur their fiery coursers into the stores and shops, 
and rein them up and down the room before the counter to the 
imminent danger of the less fortunate pedestrians, whose cir- 
cumstances compelled them to do their shopping on foot, and 
after purchasing what they desired, would wheel their horses 
head to the door and I'ide out. It is nothing uncommon to see 
three or four horsemen in the same store, and the ladies who 
might chance to be iu at the same time would have to huddle 
together in a corner, or jump up on the counter to get out of the 
danger of the horses feet. I should consider this a case of 
riding rough-shod over the rights and privileges of the well- 
disposed, sober-minded j)ortion of the community. 

From the very circumscribed dimensions of their store rooms, 
they are enabled to crowd a great many of them together in a 
very small place. I think I have seen not less than a dozen 
fronting the street on one side of an ordinary square, and pro- 
bably there were as many more on each of the other three 
sides. Many of these stores you will find tilled with sombreros 
(hats) and nothing else ; others are crammed to the ceiling with 
shoes; and it is not at all uncommon to see large stores with 
every shelf packed and crowded with cigarritos (|)aper cigars,) 



IN MEXICO. 113 

and some even with brushes, and others with brooms ; they 
seem to have a particidar antipathy to mixing their articles of 
merchandize, and are inclined to give their whole attention to 
one branch of business at a time. 

I have occasionally seen small quantities of seed cotton 
exposed for sale tn the stores, which was retailed at forty cents 
per pound; the merchants keep it on their shelves and weigh 
it out to purchasers in the same scales that they weigh pepper, 
tea and cofiec ; the largest bulk I ever saw in one store 1 do 
not think could have exceeded fifteen pounds; this incident may 
go to show tiic value and scarcity of that article in Mexico. 
Tobacco is also very scarce, and prices enormously high, 
which is occasioned by the exceedingly high tax which is paid 
for the privilege of raising and selling it. This, like many 
other articles of commerce, is a government monopoly, and 
the privilege of dealing in it can only be granted to individuals 
or corporate bodies, by their paying the most enormous tariff. 

Puros (cigars) and cigarrifos, are in universal use among 
men, women and children; but the former are composed of a 
very inferior article of tobacco; and the clgarritos, which are 
used mostly by the ladies, are made of a better article of tobacco 
than the puros, which is cut almost as fine as snuft", and confined 
in paper wrappers; the latter kind are also generally preferred 
by the gentlemen. Notwithstanding the universal practice of 
smoking which prevails to such an extent in every part of 
Mexico, and among all classes, yet I never knew a Mexican to 
chew tobacco, or even heard of such a thing; and my impres- 
sion is, that it is a practice entirely unknown among native 
Mexicans throughout the republic. In smoking, all the Mexi- 
cans exhale the smoke through the nose, a habit which they 
believe to be quite conducive to health. 



CHAPTER X. 

The site of the oncg powerful and populous city of Cholula 
is situated about five miles beyond the western gate of the city 
of Puebla, and a little to the left of the national road leading 
towards the city of Mexico, and from which a very fine view of 
the pyramid may be had. This city, in the days of its glory 
and grandeur, has been very beautifully and minuiely described 
by a number of writers on the early history of that country, 
among whom stands conspicuous Cortez, Clavijero, and Bernal 
Dias, copious translations from all of whose works have been 



114 scott's campaign 

furnished by ni6dern historians. In the days of Cortez this 
was an extensive and populous city, numbering not less than 
Ibrty thousand buildings, including those of the city and its 
suburbs, and was represented as being famous for ihe manu- 
facture of various kinds ot the finest wares, including crockery 
ware and earthen vessels of all kinds, most of which articles, 
and of quite a superior quality, arc now manufactured in the 
city of Puebla. 

The wealth and population of the ancient and wonderful city 
of Cholula, justified the erection of no less than four hundred 
temples for idolatrous worship, the towers of which Cortez 
informs us that he counted at one view, from an eminence that 
overlooked the city. There is now only a few broken columns 
and ruined walls, with here and there a shepherd's hut, left to 
tell where that ancient and mighty city once stood, in all its 
splendor and magnificence, when its streets were trod by hostile 
thousands, and the tramp of the war-horse thundered along its 
crowded thoroughfares. "Not a vestige," says Thompson, 
"literally none — not a brick or stone standing upon another, 
remains of this immense city, except the grand pyramid, which 
still stands iu gloomy and solitary grandeur, in the vast plain 
which surrounds it." It was here that the bloody and fearful 
massacre was committed by (.'ortez, which almost laid waste 
the streets of Cholula, and well nigh depopulated that beautiful 
and thriving city, and which is thought to have left a stain upon 
the otherwise untarnished escutcheon of its brave and distin- 
guished perpetrator. But he alone, assisted by only about live 
hundred Spanish warriors, could never have effected such a 
wonderful and daring exploit, but for the aid of his TlascaJan 
allies, who rushed into the city by thousands and engaged in 
one indiscrimuiate slaughter of all they met, from which they 
were eventually restrained, with much difticulty by Cortez him- 
self. My impression is, that Cortez was in a great measure 
excusable for the apparent atrocity of this deed, as the Cholu- 
lans had first concerted a plan for the slaughter and captivity of 
him and his little band of tried and faithful followers, and which 
was finally detected through the instrugicntality and superior 
address of that most extraordinary woman. Dona Marina, his 
Indian interpreter. For several weeks, schemes had been 
maturing, and secret plans forming, for the purpose of utterly 
annihilating the Spanish hero and his army, or sending them, 
bound hand and foot, to the city of Mexico, to amuse the court 
of Montezuma, and be sacrificed to the gods. But their plans 
were discovered just in time to frustrate them, and save the 
little remnant of Cortez's army, while he, with a master stroke 



IN MEXICO. 115 

of generalship, coniplofcly tumed the tables on Ihem in a man- 
ner which cost them the lives of thousands of their wealthiest 
and most prominent citizens, and filled their city with weeping, 
lamentation and woe. The only permanent and conspicuous 
monument wliich has been left by the corroding tooth of time, 
and the desolating march of war's iron-clad battalions, is the. 
celebrated pyramid of Chohila. This is still sought by the 
enterprising and curious traveller, and serves to point out the 
place where that beautiful and populous city of the plain once 
stood. This huge pile is built of unburnt bricks, and is said 
by Huml)oldt to be one hundred and seventy-seven feet high ; it 
is composed of four stories or blocks, and has a large level area 
on its summit, in which particular it varies from the other pyra- 
mids both in that country and in Egypt, which has led some to 
suppose that it was once much higher, or intended to be so by 
those who erected it. The particular object of its construction 
has never yet been ascertained with any degree of certainty. 
Whether it was designed as a tomb to hold the bones of some 
mighty conqueror, or a place of sepulture for the chief dignita- 
ries of the church, or a place of sacrifice or worship, are 
questions tor the speculations of future historians and antiquari- 
ans. This pyramid, when viewed from the main road, appears 
rough and uneven, and is almost completely covered with trees 
and shrubbery, and on the top of which stands out in bold relief 
a beautiful temple, said hy some to have been originally dedi- 
cated to the worship of the sun, while others contend that it is 
nothing more than an ordinary church or chapel, where the 
neighboring peons and rancheros assemble for worship. The 
view of this massive pile- from the road, together with the 
gloomy solitude of the vast and extensive plain that surrounds 
it, is indeed grand and sublime. I well remember the first 
approximate view that I had of this pyramid; it was on the 
morning of the 16:h of December, 1847. Some detachments 
of the American army had marched out from Pueblathat after- 
noon, on their w^ay to the city of Mexico, and encamped on the 
plain opposite the ruins, and near the eastern base of the pyra- 
mid ; but not arriving at camp until after dark, the view was of 
course obscured. Next morning about daylight, the main body 
of the troops was put in motion for the march. I lingered a 
little behind, and it being very cold, I was standing near a camp 
fire, wilh my blanket wrapped closely about me, and my eyes 
intently fixed upon the tower that crowns the summit of the 
pyramid, when I saw its domes and spires and crowning cross 
illuminated by the first taint rays of the rising sun; and I 
thought, as I turned off to join the line of march, that I had 



116 SCOTT S CAMPAIGN 

never \vitnessed a more grand and imposing spectacle in all 
my life. I felt as if I were standing upon tiie classic tombs of 
l)V-gon8 generations, where Cortez and his little band had stood 
aiid battled for life three hundred years before, while the bones 
of the slaughtered victims of his bloody massacre smouldered 
beneath my feet. 

The extensive and fertile plains composing the once densely 
populated territory of Tiascala, stretches themselves out far 
towards the mountains on the right. Bernal Dias says that 
the city of Tlasca was much bettor built and stronger than the 
city of Grenada, and contained more inhabitants than the latter 
city at the time of the conquest, and was much better provided 
with the necessaries and luxuries of life. And in the vast 
plaza or market which was a[)propriated for the purposes of 
merchandize and trafiic, more than thirty thousand people 
assembled daiiyfor the purpose ot buying and selling. 

Immediately on the arrival of the right wing of the Ameri- 
can army in the city of Puebla, our quarters were assigned us 
in one of the buildings composing that vast and extensive pile 
belonging to the convent of St. Francis, situated on the western 
side of the city near the Alameda, and adjoining the plaza de 
toro. Immediately succeeding our arrival, General Worth 
received an anonymous note from some secret triend residing 
in Puebla, warning him of the danger that surrounded him, and 
urging him to be on the alert, as the citizens were contemplal- 
ing an attack the first favorable opportunity; and that ihey were 
then making secret preparations for the purpose of accomplish- 
ing their object. He immediately gave orders for strengthening 
the guard, which was done by putting one-third of his whole 
effective force on post at once, while one Imttery, was kept 
constantly ready, the horses being harnessed and the port-fires 
lighted, while large and efficient patrol forces scoured the city 
by day and night. Fort Loretto, situated on a high hill on the 
eastern suburbs, and completely commanding the whole city, 
was instantly occupied, and the guns and mortars mounted, so 
as to be able to play with great effect upon the most populous 
parts of the city at a moment's warning. This fort is very 
strongly built, and occupies a most eligible and commanding 
position, loss than half a mile from the city, and is altogether 
capable of throwing shot and shells from pieces of ordinary 
calibre, with great precision and effect, to the most distant 
Vjorders of the city, which was tested most effectually during 
the siege of Puebla with tv/elve pounders. Sentinels were 
posted upon the house tops during the day, which positions 
were sufficiently elevated to command a pretty extensive view 



IN MEXICO. 117 

of the extreme suburbs in every direction. Every one was on 
the alert, and every available precaution was taken by officers, 
subordinates, and privates, to guard against any stratagem of 
the disaftected citizens, or being surprised or led into any snare 
by them; for no one feared an open attack in day-light, even 
with the odds and advantages which they might be able to 
array against us. The reader may justly conclude that we had 
no very slight grounds of apprehension, at least they were suf- 
ficient to justity us in keeping a sharp look out, when it is 
remembered that we were quartered, with an extremely slender 
force, right in the very heart of such an immense and overpow- 
ering hostile population, while swarms of thievish and bloody 
minded Guerrillas were daily hanging upon our borders, ready 
to co-operate vv'ith the citizens at any moment against us. This 
unpleasant suspense, combined with one continued round of 
fatiguing and enervating duties, continued about two weeks, 
v.'heu we were relieved by the timely and vvelcome arrival of 
General Scott, with Twiggs' division, and other large rein- 
forcements, which brought rest, both of body and mind, to many 
a feeble and toil-worn soldier, who had to walk his tiresome 
rounds every third day and night for the last fourteen days. 
During all this time murders and assassinations were being 
commiited almost daily upon those of our troops who wandered 
in the night, or ventured alone at any time beyond the reach of 
immediate aid. And those high-handed measures were carried 
on to such an extent, that it became necessary for the commander 
of the post to issue an order making it a punishable offence for 
American soldiers to appear alone in the streets, or without 
their side arms. The liist night after our arrival in Puebla, a 
woman was staljbed to the heart l)y her own husband, near the 
gate that led into our quarters, where her, mutilated body was 
found next morning, and was buried by the guard. This unna- 
tural act was probably committed under the influence of jealousy, 
as it is universally conceded that the Mexicans are proverbially 
the most jealous people in the world, as it is generally the case 
where the great mass of the people do not recognize a very 
high standard of virtue. It is almost im.possible to detect a 
thief or a murderer, or any refugee from justice, among the 
very dense population of the larger cities of Mexico, where 
the culprit is frequently unknown to his next door neighbor, 
and perhaps totally unknown to all who take any active interest 
in enforcing the laws and regulations tor the preservation of 
peace and good order. So the culprit has only to flee to a 
different part of the city and mingle with the masses, where he 



118 8C0TTS CAMPAIGN 

is seldom or ever disturbed ; and if detected, he frequently 
escapes justice by bribery and corruption. 

I woukljust here remark that the towns and cities of Mexico 
are about three times as densely populated, and contain, gen- 
erally speaking, about three times the num!)cr of inhabitants 
that cities of the same size do in this country. Every nook 
and corner swarm with human beings, and whole families of 
eight or ten persons frequentl_y occupy a room not more than 
fifteen feet square, while a dozen families are sometimes 
crowded within the walls of the same building. The modern 
luxury of beds, such as are used in this country, are almost 
entirely unknown among the middle and lower classes; they 
sleep upon a kind of mattrass made of straw or palm leaves, 
and cover themselves with the same blanket that they wear 
about their shoulders during the day. These portable beds are 
rolled up in the morning and laid by in a corner, where they 
are out of the way, and which, by the bye, is a great conveni- 
ence, for a stationary bed and bedstead of ordinary size would 
occupy quite too much room in their very circumscribed apart- 
ments, which they are compelled to use in the threefold capacity 
of parlor, bed-room, and kitchen. 

In the humbler dwellings of the peasantry, chairs, tables, 
spoons, knives and f^rks, with a great many other articles of 
household and kitchen furniture, which custom or convenience 
has rendered necessary in almost every other part of the civil- 
ized world, are totally unknown, or dispensed with, as matters 
of no utility at all, and are frequently looked upon as articles of 
some inconvenience. In taking their meals, they usually seat 
themselves on rude benches, or on the brick floor, around a 
large bowl of chile or vegetable soup, in which are generally 
cooked to a jelly various kinds of meats in very small quanti- 
ties; they then dip the soup with their tortillas and cat them 
both together, while their lingers alone are employed in carry- 
ing their meats to their mouths. Most of the Mexican women 
are very good cooks, and are capable of making a great many 
very nice dishes, but they generally spoil them, as we would 
think, by using too little salt, and too much red pepper, garlic, 
and onions. 

About the middle of June, the diarrhoea, in its most fatal and 
destructive form, prevailed to an alarming extent among the 
troops quartered at Puebla; the strongest and most robust con- 
stitutions seemed to sink first under its wasting and enervating 
influence. It stalked with giant strides through every depart- 
ment of the army, marking its onwaid course with death and 
desolation ; but it seemed to rage with most fatal eflect among 



IN MEXICO. 119 

the members of the Palmetto regiment, which alone lost fifty- 
four men in the montli of July, which was nearly two per day. 
'The muflled drum sending forth the mournful tones of the dead 
march, was heard passing the streets from morn till night; and 
before one funeral procession could finish the sad ceremonies 
of sepulture, another would be crowding upon its heels, and 
each returning hearse would meet another upon the way, while 
the destroying angel seemed to be hovering nearer and nearer, 
and the black pall of death spread its dark and gloomy folds 
over that doomed and devoted city. 

"And death's darlc angel, at the dead of nigl t, 

Their vitals touched, and made each pulse stand still." 

I have frequently awoke in the morning and found the one who 
slept next me a corpse, and whose prospects for living when 
we retired to rest the night before, were, to all human appear- 
ance as good as mine. The dead were mostly buried in Mexi- 
can coffins, which they made and furnished at about five dollars 
each; they were made of very thin plank or boards, tapering 
regularly from head to t'oot, without the ordinary bulge at the 
shoulders, and were painted black, with some rude ornamental 
work in white drawn upon them. The Mexicans were in the 
habit of disinterring the dead privately at night, for the purpose 
of securing the blanket, (the soldier's winding sheet.) together 
with the coffin in which he was buried, and which they would 
frequently sell to the officers of the army the second, and per- 
haps the third time. This fact was satisfactorily ascertained by 
those whose business it M'as to superintend the burying of the 
dead. At the lowest calculation, not less than two thousand of 
the American army now sleep beneath the silent sod of Puebla. 
Cut off by the filial hand of disease, they fell in a foreign and 
hostile land, far from the comforts of home and friends, without 
a mother's consoling care, or a sister's kind hand to bathe the 
fevered brow or smooth the bed of death. Not less than two 
hundred of the Palmetto regiment alone were buried there — 
wrapped in the still slumbers of the grave, "where the foe and 
the stranger may tread o'er their head," but where the deadly 
Sirocco, the poisonous breath of the pestilence, shall never 
come, nor the shrill clarion of war again disturb their quiet 
repose. 

I cannot think that the vast amount of disease and death 
which made such fearful ravages among the troops at Puebla 
could have originated from any local cause, but the seeds must 
have been brought from the coast, xvhich germinated and sprung 
up in the system here, and brought forth such an abundant bar- 



120 scott's campaign 

vest of death. And I have no doubt but that most of that 
raging epidemic which made such fatal havoc ia Quitman's 
brigade, was contracted on that fatiguing, starving, prostrating, 
and I might add, useless march to Alvarado; and which, I have 
no doubt, cost our brigade more valuable lives than it ever lost 
while facing the deadliest fire of the enemy on the field of bat- 
tle. The location of Puebla is dry and elevated, and free from 
the vicinity of swamps and marshes, while the climate is tem- 
perate and bracing, and free alike from either extreme of heat 
or cold, with clean streets, and an efficient police employed to 
keep them in order, which circumstance alone must be a very 
great preservative of the health of the place. 

As you advance fi'om the coast toward the interior, the pre- 
ponderance of the Indian population increases, and with it an 
increased number of professional beggars. I do not remember 
to have seen a single beggar in the streets of Vera Cruz. On 
reaching Jalapa, 1 saw a few, and very few, and they were 
more respectable in their appearance, and better clad, than 
those of the larger interior cities ; and on reaching Puebla I 
found them at every corner, holding out their maimed and de- 
formed hands, and crying for alms the live long day ; but even 
here they are not half so numerous as they are in the city of 
Mexico. General Thompson is of opinion that there are fewer 
cases of genital malformation in Mexico than in any other 
country in the world of the same population. In this particular 
he and I would most csrlainJy ditfer. I am free to say t,hat I 
have seen more maimed and deformed persons in the city of 
Mexico in one day, than I ever saw in all my life in the United 
States; some without feet or legs, dragging themselves along 
the streets upon their hands, filling the air with the most pite- 
ous tones as they cry perpetually for alms. Others were with- 
out hands, using their toes to pick up the few coppers you 
might throw them ; some were bowed with their heads almost 
to the ground, while the blind stood at the corners of the streets, 
or were led about by children, or little dogs, with their long 
uncombed hair hanging matted over their shoulders, and their 
blackened and shrivelled hands were extended for charity; 
while, with hideous glare of sightless eye-balls, and cracked 
and whining voice, they continually implored each passer by 
for a little alms. One writer says : — "On every side the pas- 
senger is importuned for charity. Disgusting lepers whine for 
tlacos; maimed and mutilated wretches, mounted on the backs 
of porters, thrust out their distorted limbs and expose their sores, 
urging their human steeds to increase their pace, as their vic- 
tim increases his to avoid them. Rows of cripples are brought 



IN MEXICO. 121 

into the street the first thing in the morning, and deposited 
against the wall, whence their infernal whine is heard the live- 
long day."' 

Begging in Mexico is a profession, and a hump-b \,ck, a blind- 
eye, or a lame-leg, is considered a sufficient capita; to settle one 
permanently in business, with a pretty fair prospe.t of making 
it a safe and profitable investment, or at least real.'/.ing from it 
an easy competency, sufficient to insure the comfor'able support 
of himself and family, if he might chance to have t no. There 
are a great many beggars who possess no bodily affliction, and 
beg because they are too lazy and indolent to mal 3 a living in 
any other way. Some are induced to Ibllow this :Tiode of life 
from the infirmities of age ; but those are much mo -e successful 
who may be fortunate enough to possess the neces-iary qualifi- 
cations of being halt, maimed or blind. I hav3 very little 
sympathy of feeling for most of the beggars I saw in Mexico; 
they all seemed to have a kind of whining or hypocritical cant, 
accompanied by an aflected air of distress and suffering, which 
generally led me to suspect their motives. * * * * 
Thompson says, when he was in Mexico there wa ; not a corn 
mill in the whole republic; there are now two very fine corn 
and flour mills in Puebla, which was in complete ;ind success- 
ful operation when the American army was quaiiered there ; 
also a first rate paper mill, which was doipg quite nn extensive 
business, and yielding the proprietors quite a har.dsome divi- 
dend. Puebla excels any other city in Mexico in the line of 
numerous and extensive manufactories. Almost every article 
of domestic manufacture which is used in that coiintry, or ex- 
ported to a foreign market, is made here, which ha;: entitled the 
city to the proud distinction of "the Lowell of Mexico. " 

The most common drinks of the natives, beside.^ pulque, are 
aguardienfe, mescal, anazctfa, wine and French lii'andy; the 
latter, in that country, is of a very bad quality, r.nd is, most 
probably, nothing more than common whiskey, co'ored with 
logwood. The aguardiente is made from the pulq ^e, and the 
mescal of rye or barley. There is a very fine brewery in 
Puebla, where large quantities of very fine ale is made from 
com.mon barley, which grows very finely in that country, and 
is considered quite an extensive staple commodity. The mescal 
is a very ordinary drink, and is retailed at a tlaco a glass, and 
is a very hot, fiery liquor, and soon produces intoxication; six 
and a quarter cents worth, or four tlaros, is quiis enough to 
make a man drunk; but it is very rarely used by the more 
wealthy and prudent part of the community, as it is universally 
6 



122 scott's campaign 

considered unwholesome, and soon proves fatal to the constitu- 
tion if drark to excess. When a Senor and Senora call at the 
shop for tl'^"'ir refreshments, they order two glasses to be filled, 
and the wi'b taking one, gently tastes it by touching it with her 
lips, and tl-en hands it to her husband, then she takes her own 
glass and hey both drink together; sometimes they repeat, the 
wife alws'.'s tasting the husband's glass before either drink. 
Judging fi ,m my casual observations, I should say that the 
Mexicans, as a nation, are generally rather moderate drinkers, 
hut when hey do take a notion to indulge, they mostly prefer 
the pulque as it is more wholesome and pleasant to the taste, 
and the 'pains and penalties" of getting sober are not so 
unpleasan as from that of stronger drinks; the nausea and 
head-ache of the succeeding day are not half so painful, and 
one feels almost as well after being drunk on pulque as if 
nothing h: d happened. 

They V Ul frequently assembly at the pulque shops in crowds 
of some c' )zen or lifteen, and drink until they become quite 
merry; they then amuse themselves in various ways, such as 
singing n .tional airs or love ditties, w'hich they frequently 
compose a 1 they go, or dancing to the music of the guitar, and 
sometimes a game of monte is introduced, and a few tlacos bet, 
just to pas away the time, for the whole amusement with them 
consists ij the beiting, and consequently they never play with- 
out it. I . m quite happy to say that it is a very rare thing to see 
a drunken Mexican lying helpless in the streets, or a bevy of 
the devotejs of Bacchus quarrelling and fighting before the 
door of a grocery. Such things may occasionally be met with, 
but they are by no means of every day occurrence. 

ColonC' Childs, while he was acting as Civil and Military 
Governor ■)! Puebla, issued an order making it a penal ofience 
for a shop-keeper to sell spirits of any kind to an American 
soldier; but this was most admirably taken advantage of by 
the gentleuien of the cigar and blanket, who make their living 
by walking the streets. At almost every corner you might 
meet one with a bottle concealed under his sarape, and as you 
would pass him he would give you a knowing wink, and say to 
you in an under tone, ^'■queripci- 7nescal,'" (do you want some 
brandy.) 'he answer would most generally be "«« senor;''' he 
would theu beckon you to follow him, and entering the first 
door where the transaction could be carried on secretly, he 
would dee" out as much as you desired of the good creature for 
the consic:ration of a few tlacos. I have- known the market 
women to put it In their coflee and sell it in that w ay, while 



IN MEXICO. 123 

otliers would mix it with their pulque, and raise the price to two 
tlacos a glass instead oi" one, which was always cheerfully paid 
by the vendee after he once tasted it and found out 1 lie trick. 

There are two very line and spacious theatres in I'uebla ; the 
one near tne " Plaza de Toro," on the western side of the city, 
was occupied during the stay of the American army by a com- 
pany of American actors, under the proprietorship of Messrs. 
Hart and Wells, and assisted by sotne amateur actors ])elonging 
to the army. The circus was also a place of popsdar resort, 
which was gotten up by an association of Yankees from the 
land (if steady hal)its, and was very well sustained, and numer- 
ously patronized, and brought the public-spirited and enterpris- 
ing proprietors quite a handsome dividend. Mrs. Morrison and 
Miss Christian, both celebrated actresses from the S;ates, were- 
on the stage almost every night, and commanded crowded 
houses to the last. The former is not only a fine aciress and a 
splendid looking lady, but one of the best singers, decidedly, that 
I have ever heard. The latt(U" appeared to be quite young, not 
exceeding fifteen, and was universally admired as a beauty; she 
wore Spanish gaiters, with small brass bells on the heels, and 
could outdance Macl)eth's witches. She acted Pai^in;^ in the 
Lady of Lyons, and Corporal Styles acted Claude Melnotte, 
and were encored to the last. The theatre which was occu- 
pied l)y the Spanish company was tolerably well patmnized, the 
entrance money being only xino real, (twelve and a half cents,) 
while that of the American company was fifty cents. The 
Spanish are very good actors, perhaps superior to ours, as far 
as mere action and gesticulation are concerned; as to the merits 
of their pieces, I did not possess a sufficient knowledge o*" their 
language to enable me to form any thing like a correct judg- 
ment. The costume of the actors was rich and gnudy in the 
extreme, but in this pai'ticular the actresses eveii excelled 
them, their dresses being in a perfect blaze with g')ld, silver, 
and diamonds. * * * * Tho- Mexicans never put on 
what we term summer or winter clothing, but wea the same 
material the year round. Li fact, they have little c • no cause 
to do so, as the temperature rarely ever changes mc e than ten 
degrees throughout the 3''ear. The muy rico caheller.is scarcely 
ever use the sarape, except it is a very fine one, anc they only 
wear it when on horseback in riding into the coun' .y, or from 
one town to another, to protect them against the suddt ;i showers, 
as they are very thick and almost water proof; bii instead of 
the blanket they wear a very lai'ge cloth cloak, loade of the 
finest material, and lined in front with silk velvet, i ;i walking, 
they throw the right fold over the left shoulder, in qt.itean easy 



124 scott's campaign 

and graceful manner, which completely covers the bust, arms, 
and the lower part of the face. I have often seen them walk- 
ing the streets under the vertical rays of a tropical August sun, 
thus enveloped in the flowing folds of a heavy cloak; and then 
1 have seen the same persons passing the streets on a chilly 
December morning M'ith only a lisien roundabout. The ladies 
of the middle classes are never seen in public without their 
reboza; and the mvy grande senorita never appears in tie 
streets, or at church or theatre, without her paniieUo, (shawl.) 
which is spread over the head, and confined with a hair pin, 
and extends almost down to the ground. 



CHAPTER XL 

The adva-ice of the army of invasion under Major General 
Worth, reached the city of Puebla on the fifteenth day of May, 
of which they took peacealjle possession, vi'iLhout the least show 
of resistance, and quartered v.ithiii its gates. In about ten 
days or a fortnight after, the army of reserve arrived, com- 
manded l)y General Twiggs, and accompanied by the General- 
in-Chief, wLich augmented the force then in Pueljla to about 
eight thousand men, which was considered by the proper au- 
thorities an insufficient force M'ith which to march against the 
city of Mexico, as the number of its garrison, and the strength 
of its fortifications, wero, then entirely unknown. So a general 
halt was called, and the \vh()le army took up quarters and re- 
mained in a state of " masterly inactivity " from May till August, 
Availing for reinforcements; during the whole of which time the 
most active preparations were going on in the city, collecting 
and organizing the scattered troops, bringing in the outposts, 
and erecting and strengthening fortifications at every defensible 
point in and about the city. 

It was thrught l)y many, and no doubt correctly, too, that if 
General Sc( it's force had been sufficient to have justified him 
in marching directly against the city without halting at Puebla, 
that he migl t have entered it v»ithout any resistance whatever; 
as it is well known that the main part of the army was collected 
and organ iz'd, and the fortifications erected after tjjat date. 
In fact, it w 'S afterwards rumored, with some degree of plausi- 
])ility at lea; ', that the authorities of Mexico had not determined 
upon the question whether the city should be defended or not, 
until they h; d learned that the American army had halted, and 
taken up qi;arters at Puebla, which delay would give them 



IN MEXICO. 125 

ample time to erect fortifications, collect an army; and put the 
city in a respectable state of defence. It was also known at 
that time, that a large portion of the wealthy and influential 
citizens of Mexico were decidedly opposed to any further re- 
sistance, and that rather than subject their ancient and beauti- 
ful city to the fatal and disastrous consequences of a regular 
bombardment, that they would follow in the wake of their 
fellovv-citizens of Puebla, and open their gates to the battling 
legions of fhe "barbarians of the north." About the first of 
August the long expected reinforcements arrive I from Vera 
Cruz, bringing with them a very large train of Commissary's 
stores; thus augmenting the effective force to abtut ten thous- 
and men. And immediately the glad notes of pre;)arationfor a 
march against the city, and a "revel in the Halls," were 
sounding in every direction through the bustling an 1 busy camp, 
and all seemed anxious to see the city, let it cost v/hat it might. 
A little active energy, and a few busy days and nij.,ht3, wei-e all 
that was necessary to have every thing in readiness for the 
move, and early on the morning of the Tth, Gent ral Twiggs' 
division, preceded Ijy Colonel Harney's brigade', of cavalry, 
moved off in gallant style, making the welkin rii g with three 
cheers for the start, I think I never saw a finer looking set of 
men in all my life ; they were ail in their best police, with their 
clean neat uniforms of United States blue, and their muskets 
briglitly burnished and glittering in the sun, and all marching 
in solid columns to the spirit-stirring strains of martial music, 
with the jaunty step and correct precision of we:l-drilled sol- 
diers. On the morning of the 8i,h, General Quitman's division 
of volunteers, with a small detachment of U. S. Marines, 
started, following hard in the wake of the veteran Twiggs ; 
they rent the air with long and loud shouts, and gave three 
cheers for the "Halls of the Montezumas." They made quite 
a martial appearance, while their long extended lines of glitter- 
ing bayonets and burnished muskets reached almost from the 
plaza to the Alameda, and looked like a solid wall of sparkling 
steel. And as the serrid ranks moved off, flingiig the starry 
folds of their battle flag to the morning breeze, every eye was 
turned upon their gallant leader, as he dashed aloiig their well 
formed lines, with the slumbering fires of battle kindling in his 
countenance, and flashing from his burning eye : for all felt 
assured of the fact that they were not to be idle long, as they 
anticipated bloody work buf a few days ahead. But Quitman 
was there, around M'hom clustered the hopes of t'le volunteer 
division, and under the guiding star of his skill and courage 
they all felt confident of victory ; for he had learned some hard 
6* 



12(j scott's campaign 

and useful lessons beneath the guns and walls of Monterey, 
and which they felt confident he would turn to a good account 
between there and the Garita de Belen; and which he did, to 
the utter rout and dismay of fearful odds and opposing hosts ; he 
scattered the foe from his victorious track, like a proud war 
horse would shake the dew drops from his mane, and then 
turning to look upon the ruin he had wrought. Worth's divi- 
sion of regulars left on the 9!h, and Pillow's on the 10th of 
August, ev;;ry division preceding the next one day, and a]iprox- 
imating nearer jind nearer during their march towards the city, 
in order to place each corps in easy supporting distance of the 
other, inciise the front should be attacked by superior numbers. 
The who!.' army of invasion was now in motion, and moving 
on like so;ne vast portentous cloud towards the Capital, which 
was t/hen . upposed would shortly l)e the bright goal of its ambi- 
tion, or the grave of its hopes. The proud eagle of America — 
the beautilul stars and stripes, bright with the clustering glories 
of victory reaped in the bloody harvest of many a wcIl-fought 
field, must soon trail in the dust beneath the foot of a vandal 
foe, or be flung in triumph to the breeze high above the proud 
pillars of ihe National Palace. 

The movements of the army were slow but certain, like the 
folds of the. Anaconda drawing closer and closer about its vic- 
tim; onward and still onward it bends its winding course, 
wrapped i)i thick clouds of rolling dust; tjie veteran Twiggs is 
leading the van, urging his tired troops over hill and dale, while 
his rear is closely pressed by the succeeding division ; and 
when Qui- man reaches the summit of the hill beyond the Rio 
Frio, which divides the valley of Puebla from that of Mexico, 
Twiggs' tiain is seen stretching its long and serpentine coils 
far along the dusty plains of the beautiful and romantic valley 
that lay beneath. And on looking back from the same emi- 
nence, Worth's division could be distinctly seen in the dim 
distance, winding its tortuous way over hills and through ra- 
vines, far in the distance towards San Martin. Here was an 
army of t'Mi thousand men marching in hostile array against" 
one of the finest and wealthiest cities ever built by Europeans, 
and Avhose sacred streets had not been polluted by the footfall 
of a foreign foe for more than three hundred years. 

You mi-y well imagine the excitement and anxiety which 
pervaded all classes in anticipation of the coming fight; the 
spies from the heights had already announced the approach of 
Scott and his forces, and it was instantly known within the 
M'alls of th"- city : and the awful news spread like wild-fire from 
centre to circumference, through every lane and alley of the 



IN MEXICO. 127 

Capital. And such was the universal interest and excitement 
that seized that moving mass of living matter that now swept 
the streets like the waves of an angry sea, that the beggar for 
a moment forgot his cries for charity, and stood dumb-founded in 
the streets ; tlie marlict women rushed from their stalls and 
booths, and with their baskets of fruit upon their backs, mingled 
with the excited populace, and with eager haste inquired about 
the cjcrcilo de los Estadus Unidos ; tlie arrieros stopped (heir 
beasts of burden, and the carman his dray ; and the young 
mf)ther turned pale and pressed her infant babe closer to her 
bosom, while she listened to the rumbling tread of advancing 
thousands. The mother bid her son adieu with tears in her 
eyes, and sent him forth to battle ; and the strong man wept 
like a child as he buckled on his armour and tore himself away 
from the last embrace of a young and affectionate wife ; and 
the palsied hand of age, forgetting its infirmities, seized the 
trusty firelock and went forth to battle for home and country. 
Such, we may reasonably suppose, was the state of public 
feeling in Mexico when the head of the advancing columns of 
the American army appeared in sight upon the distant plains. 
On the night of the eleventh, Quitman's division camped at 
a small town or hacienda called Buena Vista, only a few miles 
in advance of which was Twiggs' camp on the Fenon road, 
which was the direct route to the city, Quitman remained in 
camp on the r2th, 13th, and 14th, while the Engineers were 
reconnoitering El Penon, which was a lofty peak rising up 
abruptly on the left of the road, and in easy musket range, 
which had been strongly fortified, and defended with heavy ar- 
tillery, mounted on three tier of breast works that crowned its 
summit, and was considered decidedly one of the best situated 
and most strongly fortified points on the whole route from Vera 
Cruz to the city. Quitman's division marched from their camp 
at Buena Vista at 6 o'clock on the morning of the 15th, and 
taking the right hand, reached Twiggs' camp at quite an early 
hour. Here they learned that it had been determined, by the 
advice of the Engineers, not to approach the city by the direct 
route by the way of the Penon road, as it had been reported 
that it would cost Scott five thousand men to turn the works on 
that mountain, so they were ordered to face about and turn 
back, and afterwards taking the right hand they soon reached 
Worth's camp at Lake Chalco, on the route leading to San Au- 
gustin. This point was reached about 12 o'clock by Quitman's 
division, soon after which Worth struck his tents and moved on 
a few miles further, while Quitman's division, occupying the 
same ground, pitched their tents and camped for the night. It 



128 Scott's campaign 

was, no doubt, confidently expected by Santa Anna and his 
Generals, that Scott would approach the city by the most direct 
route, which was by the way ot^thc Penon road, and had there- 
fore strengthened its defences with more than ordinary care, by 
erecting several strongly fortified works, which com])letely 
commanded the approach, and mounting thereon a large portion 
of his heaviest artillery. x\nd in ordo' to keep up and encour- 
age this delusion on the part of the Mexican leaders, Twiggs 
was ordered to remain with his division a day or two at Ayotla, 
and continue to threaten Ei Penon and Mexicalcingo. 

The m:iin road leading by the Penon mountain towards the 
city IS nothing more than a causeway erected through the mid- 
dle of a lake, and during the rainy season it is completely-filled 
with water up to the very edges of the road on both sides, so 
that nothing but this narrow causeway is left dry, and some- 
times even that is flooded. And along this narrow track, with- 
out the possibility of diverging either way, would our army 
had to have marched in close colunms tor more than two miles, 
every step of which they would have been exposed to the wast- 
ing fire of more than fifty pieces of heavy artillery, which was 
frowning down upon them from the overhanging clifis of that 
precipitous mountain, and which could have swept our path like 
the deadly blast of the desert, and buried our entire army in 
one common ruin below. But Scott wisely determined not to 
awake the smouldering fires of this slumbeiiiig volcano, and 
leaving it in Jiis rear, diverge to the left, and march directly 
against San Augustine, and leave the Mexicans to drag their 
cannon to some other pijint, it they expected to annoy him with 
them. 

General Twiggs being in the advance, had approached seve- 
ral miles nearer the Penon than any other division; accordingly 
on the morning of the 16th, he broke up his camp at Ayotla, 
and took up the line of march towards Lake Chalco, which lay 
some five or six miles in his rear, and to the lefi, which he 
gained by marching back a few miles, and then taking the 
road leading to San Augustin, which the other divisions had 
passed a few days before. On this short march, however, he 
fell in with a large number of the enemy's cavalry and infantry, 
under the command of General Valencia, who, having largely 
the advantage in point of numbers, seemed disposed to give him 
battle. Twiggs immediately halted his advancing columns, 
and hastily throwing them into line of battle, gave the enemy a 
few rounds of well-directed shot from one of his field batteries, 
which soon succeeded in creating confusion in their ranks, and 
finding they could eflect nothing by prolonging the combat, they 



I'N MEXICO. 129 

broke and ried in great precipitation, leaving quite a number ot" 
their dead and wounded upon the Held. It is near thirty miles 
from Chalcoto San Augustin, and leading over a route which 
M'as deemed by the enemy perfectly impracticable, but which 
was accomplished by all the troops, without further molestation, 
as early as the ISlli. Worth's division, accompanied by Har- 
ney's brigade of cavalry, pushed on a few miles beyond San 
Augustin, for the purpose of reconnoitering the woi'ks about 
the village of San Antonio, which was found to be very strongly 
defended by entrenchments, and heav} field pieces, planted so 
as to rake the main road leading towards the Capital. This 
place presented quite a formidable difficulty to the advance of 
our troops, as it was found by the Engineers to be totally im- 
practicable to efiect a passage on the right, on account of the 
wet and marshy nature of the ground. The only remaining 
chance was to turn the works by infantry on the left, passing 
over a plain covered with large rocks of volcanic formation, 
and over which it was impossible flir artillery to pass. 

Seeing the disadvantageous circunistances under wliich he 
would labor in atteiviptiiig to carry this strongly fortified point, 
the General-in-Chief ordered Worth to hold his present posi. 
tion and threaten and mask the works, but not attack them, 
which was considered the most expedient and proper course 
that could be pursued at that time. The first man Nvho fell 
before the enemy in the valley of Mexico, was Captain Thorn- 
ton, of the 2d dragoons, who had often distinguished himself as 
a brave and skillfull officer in the Ijattles of the Rio Grande; 
he was present at the opening of the war, and was with Taylor 
when the first gun was fired from the walls of Fort Brown up 
to the capitulation of Monterey. He was covering a reconnoi- 
tering party with his gallant corps of dragoons when the enemy 
opened upon them, and the first shot that was fired from the 
works of San Antonio struck him down, mortally wounded, at 
the head of his command. A reconnoisance was commenced 
on the 18lh, and continued on the 19lh, by Captain Lee and 
Lieutenants Beauregard and Tower of the Engineer corps, ex- 
tending to the left of San Augustin, over steep and difficult hills, 
and fields of sharp and pointed volcanic rocks, reaching to the 
base of the mountains, five miles l)eyond San Antonio. Pil- 
low's division was advanced in order to clear a track for the 
artillery to pass ; and Twiggs' division was ordered to move in 
front for the purpose of coverino- the line of fatigue operations. 
This disposition of the forces uiider Twiggs became necessary 
from the fact that large bodies of the enemy had been seen on 
the look-out in that direction the day before, and with whom a 



130 scott's campaign 

small detachment under Colonel Graham had some very spirited 
skirmishing. By three o'clock on the evening of the 18th, ad- 
vanced portions of the army had arrived almost within reach of 
the guns of the entrenched camp, and could not pursue their 
course on the direct road further without exposing themselves 
to a most destructive fire from the twenty-two pieces of heavy 
artillery which were frowning down upon them tiom the strong- 
ly fortified position which crowned the summit of the hill. 
These works contained not less than eight thousand men, which 
were almost hourly being reinforced by large bodies of both 
cavalry and infantry from the city, which continued to pour 
themselves in a steady stream from the gates, M'hile in the ra- 
vines and on the neighboring heights not less than twelve 
thousand more were hovering round within easy supporting 
distance, looming up in the distance like angry clouds hanging 
in broken columns upon the horizon's verge. Opposed to this 
overwhelming force was only four thousand five hundred men, 
without cavalry or artillery, and laboring under every disad- 
vantage which broken ground and chosen positions could array 
against them. At 4 o'clock. Pillow's and Twiggs' divisions 
had pushed forward to assist in engaging and dislodging the 
enemy, and to facilitate which purpose they had extended their 
lines towards the road leading from the city, and on the left of 
the enemy's works. Captain Magruder's and Callender's bat- 
teries were also advanced with incessant labor and difficulty, 
and placed in position, where they were most gallantly and 
effectually served; but they suffered very much from the inces- 
sant and destructive fire from the enemy's heavier pieces. The 
top of the hill was wrapped in sheets of living fire, and had the 
appearance, at a distance, of a volcano in full play, belching 
forth volumes of smoke and flame, which almost blotted out the 
enemy's works from view, and made the evening sun to go 
down in blood. But during this time Magrudcr and Callender 
were by no means idle, but faithful to their charge, they walked 
back and ti>rth before their batteries, amid the plunging fire that 
poured its wasting storma round them, and encouraged and stea- 
died the men that worked the guns, and answering fire to fire, 
hurled the hot bolts of death against the trembling battlements 
of the foe. The battle continued to rage with unabated fury on 
both sides, until darkness closed the contest, and spreading its 
black mantle over the l)loody field, shut out from view the con- 
tending forces. The night was dark and cold, and the rain fell 
in torrents, and the exhausted army had to snatch the few 
hours of repose which were allowed them, upon the cold wet 
ground, while the water swept in floods around them, with their 



IIV MEXICO. 131 

arms wet, without tents, blankets or rations, and themselves 
drenched to the skin. Thus they passed that awful night of 
the 18th of August, sleeping beneath the pitiless peltings of 
the storm, whose angry bowlings was mingled with the groans 
and cries of the wounded and dying, which came up in tones 
of pain and despair from every part of that rent and gorey field. 
The night wore away, and both armies slept upon the same 
ground where they had tbught so bi'avely the preceding day, 
and so near together that each could hear the measured tread of 
the other's sentinals as they walked their lonesome rounds. 
But excessive fatigue and exhaustion caused them to sleep as 
soundly and sweetly as if they had been dreaming away the 
swift-winged hours beneath the moon-beams of a soft Italian 
sky; and the first faint beams of the morrow's son were not to 
look down upon a field of blood and carnage. 

General Smith's and Colonel Riley's brigades of Twiggs' 
division, and Pierce's and Cadwalader's brigades of Pillow's 
division, were most exposed to the direct fire of the enemy, 
who continued to pour incessant vollies of artillery and small 
arms into their bleeding and unprotected ranks for near three 
hours, without one moment's intermission. The Entrenched 
Camp, or Contreras, (as it is most commonly called,) with its 
frowning batteries of heavy field pieces, was not the only avail- 
able auxiliary that surrounded this most favorable position of 
Valencia's forces ; but the surromiding heights and ravines were 
perfectly covered and crowded by clouds of infantry and cavalry, 
ready and waiting the signal to fly to the nid of the beleagured 
camp, which was struggling to restrain its pent up fires upon the 
crest of the hill, and impatiently waiting for the morrow's light 
to enable it to ])our, in burning streams, the red lava of death 
down its sides, and overwhelm the little army that looked like 
a mere speck as seen in the distance through the smoke of bat- 
tle. But that little speck of an army which had been the sub- 
ject of the haughty Valencia's scorn and contempt, though it 
might not have appeared to him much larger than Elijah's 
cloud, when compared to the long lines of his own darkening le- 
gions ; but quite a change had taken place during the night, 
and when the morrow's light revealed its true proportions, as it 
hinig in threatening gloom upon the western side of his camp, 
it had assumed a more respectable appearance, while ever and 
anon he could see the red glare of the lightning as it played 
upon its threatening surface, and revealed to bis astonished 
gaze the dread heralds of the coming storm, hanging round him 
like the angry clouds that curtain the black chambers of the 
thunder's home. 



132 scott's campaigx 

But when that dark and dismal night set in, both parties 
seemed willing to suspend further operations, and wait the 
dawn of the coming day, to decide the contest. The main body 
of our troops were by no means idle during the night ; they 
only waited for the gatheiing darkness to shut out their move- 
ments from the view of the enemy, when they set to work to 
gain the most favorable position, from whence to storm the en- 
trenched camp, and carry the works at the point of the bayonet. 
Quitman had received orders to remain with his division, as a 
guard, at San Augustin, which was then the general depot of 
tlie army stores and provisions; and just as the men wei'e en- 
gaged in drawing four days rations for that very purpose, an 
express arrived from head quarters on the wings of the wind, 
ordering the Palmetto and New York regiments, under General 
Shields, to push on with all possible speed to the support of 
Generals Pillow and Twiggs, who were then hotly engaged 
with the enemy's whole line. These two regiments, forming 
Shields' brigade, left San Augustin about four o'clock on the 
evening of the lOtli, and by a forced march over extremely 
rough and broken ground, reached the vicinity of the battle 
field at rather a late hour at night. I presume that very few of 
the survivors who participated in the toils and hardships of that 
evening's march will ever forget it. Their way lay over the 
sharp rocks and deep ravines composing the celebrated Pcdregal 
or field of lava, which was perfectly impassable on horseback, 
and almost so on toot ; many of the ofiicers lost their horses, 
among whom was lM;iior Gladden of the Palmetto regiment. 
The night was incessantly dark and the rain iell in torrents, 
while the road was so muddy and slijipery that it was impossi- 
ble for the men to keep on their teet, l)ut was continually 
tumlding down at every few steps. Tlie fact is there was no 
road, and scarcely any iray, but still, with untiring zeal and en- 
ergy they continued to urge their onward course over rocks and 
ravines, and often wading the mountain streams, swollen by the 
falling rain, some of which were waist deep. It was quite a 
late hour at night before this brigade got in position, which it 
had to hold in the face of the storm, and without tents, blankets, 
or provisions, until daylight the next morning. During the 
night of the 19th, Generals Shields, Smith and Cadwalader 
concentrated their respective brigades, together with the 15th 
Infantry, under Colonel Morgan, at or near the hamk^tor haci- 
enda ot Ansalda, which lay some distance in the direction of 
the city from the enemy's position at Contreras, and on the 
route leading directly to the ftictory of IVIagdalena. This 
had been the concentrated point of the hottest work with the 



IN MEXICO. 13!? 

enemy on the evening bef()re ; and the difficult and doubtfid 
task now lay before our Ihtigued and worn out troops, of taking 
by assault, and without the aid of cavalry or artillery, this 
strong and well-defended point of the enemy's works. But 
these ol)stac!es had to be met and overcome ; the daring deed 
must be accomplished, and that, too, in the very face of twenty- 
two pieces of heavy, well-manned artillery, or our gallant nnd 
indefatigable advance corps would be compelled to abandon all 
the advantages which they might have gained, and iall back 
upon the San Augustin road, and force a passage by turning 
the strong and well-fortified position of San Antonio. 

In order to be prepared for the worst, and to make matters 
more sa^e in the neighl)orhood ot hostilities, General Worth 
was ordered to leav(? one of his brigades at San Antonio, in 
order to mask it and hold the garrison in check, and march with 
the balance of his conmiand early on the morning of the 2()tli 
by the way of San Augusrtn, upon Contreras. General Quit- 
man was also ordered tbrv»"ard towards the same point, while 
his position at San Augustin would be occupied by Colonel 
Harney's brigade of cavalry, whose services would be render- 
ed inefficient on the field of battle by the rocky ravines and 
broken nature of the ground. The main plan of attack for the 
approaching hour of daylight was principally suggested and 
arranged by Brigadier General Persitlir F. Smith, seconded by 
the advice and counsel of (Jenerals Shields and Cadwalader, 
and Colonel Riley. General Shields was the senior officer 
present, and to him the command of the whole force at that 
point properly belonged; but as he came up with his brigade 
after night, and after the plan of attack had been arranged by 
Smith and others, he politely waived the privilege ot assuming 
command, and nobly left the assault to Ije led by those who had 
planned it, while he, of his own choice, occupied a subordinate 
position. To him and his gallant brigade was then submitted 
the difficult and dangerous task of holding the hamlet with only 
two regiments, against an overwhelming superiority of numbers, 
both of infantry and cavalry, which were hovering near him on 
the side towards the city, and threatening every moment to be 
down upon him in a stream of fire. This position was also 
judiciously chosen with a view to enable him to harrass the flying 
enemy, and if possible cut oif their retreat, should they be 
routed by the charge of Smith on the rear of their works, which 
was intended to take place at daylight the next morning. And 
well and faithfully did the Palmettoes and New Yorkers, under 
their brave and accomplished leader, discharge their duty, 
and more than realize the most sanguine anticipations of their 



134 SCOTT S CAMPAIOJ* 

friends, as the bleeding and mangled battalions of the routed foe 
were able to testify but a few hours afterwards. 

The general movement to gain a position in the enemy's 
rear, was commenced about throe o'clock ir_ the morning, with 
the blunt but gallant Riley leading the van, ibllowed in the re- 
gular order of succession by the respective brigades of Cad- 
waluder and Smith, the latter of which M'as commanded for the 
time by Major Dimick, of the first artillery; the whole assault- 
ing force being under the immediate orders of General Smith, 
wlio was senior officer in the general attack. In leading this 
brilliant and successful assault upon the entrenched camp of 
Valencia, he won laurels that shall never Hitie from his honored 
brow, and by his gallantry and skill, which lie displayed in such 
an eminent degree on that occasion, he secured the proud title 
of the " Hero of Contreras "; he won it well, and may he wear 
it long. The march, which was necessary to gain the enemy's 
rear, was a most tedious and arduous undertaking, rendered 
more so by the excessive darkness of the Jiight, and the tor- 
rents of rain that still continued to fall, together with the deep 
mud, and the very rough and uneven natuie of the ground over 
which they had to pass. But by the assistance of Lieutenant 
Tower, and others of the Engineer corps, Colonel Riley, with 
the advance of the assaulting force, reached — about sun-rise — 
a favorable position on an eminence in r( ar of the entrenched 
camp, from whence he ordered the charge, and poured his 
storming legions, like a sweeping tornado, against the trembling 
works of the enemy, which he oitered in triumph, and planted 
his colors upon the walls, all of which, from the commence- 
ment of the charge, was but the work of seventeen minutes. 
Taking into consideration the great and paramount advantages 
possessed by the enemy, in both natural and artificial defenses, 
their heavy artillery, and great superiority of numbers; and 
then remeiuljering that the Americans Mere without cavalry or 
artillery, I think it must generally be conceded that this is one 
of the most decisive and brilliant victories on record. But the 
fighting by no means ceased when the enemy abandoned their 
works and fled towards the city. The diioction of the routed 
foe led them near the hamlet of Ansalda, where the gallant 
Palmettoes and New Yorkers were in position, and waiting with 
levelled pieces to give the flying masses a j'fi'sslng notice, which 
they did not fail to do, and poured a stream of fire into the dis- 
ordered ranks of the confused and retreating thousands, as they 
almost came to a full halt, huddled up between two walls, while 
the road was completely choaked. The deadly and destructive 
fire from Shields' brigade was incessant and fatal in the ex- 



IN MEXICO. 135 

trenie, mowing down whole ranks of the enemy at every dis- 
charge, while their h)ng extended lines seemed completely en- 
veloped in one constant sheet of flame, as they rained a perfect 
hail-storm of bullets into their panic-struck and fast thinning 
columns. The hoarse voice of the impetuous Shields was 
heard above the roar of musketry and the din of battle, as he 
spurred his fiery charger along the blazing ranks, while his 
glittering blade, as he waved it above his head in fiery circles, 
shot its lightning glances far around, and served as the guiding 
star to lead on his battling hosts to victory. 

The field was perfectly strewed with the killed and wounded, 
and also a large number of prisoners were taken ; an.ong the 
latter was General Mcndoza, who delivered up his sword to 
Captain Dunnovant, of the Palmi^tto regiment, who was after- 
wards promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, to fill the 
vacancy occasioned l)y the death of Lieutenant Colonel Dick- 
inson, who died of a wound received at the battle of Churubusco. 
General Cadwalader, with his brigade consisting ot the Volti- 
geurs and the 11th Infantry, also acted a conspicuous part in 
carrying (he entrenched camp; and Colonel Ransom, Avith his 
temporary brigade, conducted by Captain Lee of the Engineer 
corps, made a very timely and spirited movement for the pur- 
pose of diverting and distracting the enemy, and finally, beyond 
the ravine, opened a fierce and destructive fire upon the retreat- 
ing columns. The wake of the enemy was perfectly covered 
with muskets, escopets, caps, and uniforms, which the Mexicans 
had throv.'n off in their flight, in order that they niight not have 
the appearance of soldiers; hundreds of them acted in that way, 
and then running towards our troops, almost in a state of nudity, 
they would fall upon their knees, and with their hands thrown 
up, l)eg for quarter, exclaiming at the same time at the top of 
their voice, "ho hay soldado, no hay soldado!''^ (I am no sjoldier, 
I am no soldier). One of our men killed a poor Mexican sol- 
dier while on his knees before him, and v.'ith extended hands 
and tears in his eyes, begging for mercy; but regardless of his 
entreaties, the heartless and cruel soldier, contrary to orders 
and the advice of Ids comrades, deliberately raised his musket, 
and at the distance (.f only a few paces, shot him through the 
heart. And strange to say, that soldier was the first man who 
fell on that afternoon at the battle of Churubusco. He was 
killed at the distance of half a mile with an escopet ball, and 
which was thought by his companions to be a righteous retri- 
bution which had overtaken him for his cruelty to the Mexican 
soldier in the morning. The American army, as a body, were 
universally distingiushed for kindness and generosity towards 



136 scott's campaign 

their enemies, and their courteous and humane bearing was a 
subject of remark even among the Mexicans themselves. But 
there will be some exceptions in all large armies; some men 
will be found in their ranks who are destitute of those finer 
feelings and liberal sentiments which always distinguish the 
gentleman soldier. It might be proper to remark that the sol- 
dier who committed this barbarous and cold blooded deed to 
which I have just alluded, was not a native American citizen. 

The great victory of Contreras is complete— the wiley and 
stubborn foe has been swept tVom the heights by a hurricane of 
l)ayonets, and the shattered tragments of that once powerful 
and well-appointed army, were now bending their crippled 
course in full and confused flight towards the cit}' — thus was 
Avon, by the indomitable courage and un_yiclding perseverance 
of the Anglo-Saxon soldiery, the first grand victory of the Valley 
of Mexico. The following lucid description of that splendid 
victory is from the pen of an eye-witness, and one who knows 
how to write as well as fight : 

"The army rolled on its lengthened train, between those ' 
stupendous mountain files, rearing their snow-capped summits 
far above the region of the clouds. Mountain piled on moun- 
tain in confused and terrible grandeur, mementoes of the mighty ■ 
convulsions that have rocked, and torn, and upward pushed 
these mighty mountains, when the agonizing throes of the liquid 
fiery elements of the volcano struggled furiously in the convul- 
sive throbs of the earthquake, to burst the adamantine crust, 
and discharge the melted fiery matter in the upper air, pouring 
out floods of melted lava o'er all the plains below. The onward 
movement of the victorious little army was arrested by the 
formidable works of Contreras and Churubusco. Valencia's 
7,000 warriors, behind ramparts studded with cannon, and 
bristling with steel, must be met and vanquished, shielded as 
they were by so many natural barriers, chasms of interminable 
depth, sharp, craggy j)edrigal recks, and deep ravines of tuibii- 
lent waters must be passed ere the enemy are reached. The 
Chief assem])led his council, and determined the deed to be 
done; the scientific energies of the powerful minds in attend- 
ance were called into activity, the plan of attack was arranged 
and soon put in operation. The heights of Contreras were 
gained while darkness shrouded mountain and valley from the 
watchman's eye. The shout of battle and the death-shriek of 
his ranks, as the gleaming steel drinks the blood and pierces the 
heart, were the first to break Valencia's slumbers and mark the 
track by Avhich these daring warriors reached his stronghold ; 
the dead was triply strewed o'er all the ground, so fierce and 



IN MEXICO. 137 

sudden was the onset. The dense retreating masses, enveloped 
in fire and smoke, flying in wild disorder before the death- 
strokes of the maddened victors, are now enclosed by the double 
lines of foemen ; raidc after rank o^ their disordered columns 
are thus mown down Ijy the well-aimed deadly musketry. 
Thousands fell beneath this protracted slaughter, till every ave- 
nue of flight was choked, and the l)attle field was alone cum- 
bered with the dead, Contreras had fallen, and the third victory 
was won." 

In this fight, the enemy lost in killed seven hundred, and near 
nine hundred prisoners, including 8S oflicers, four of whom 
were Generals; besides a large numlier of colors, ensigns and 
standards, twenty-two pieces of heavy brass ordnance, several 
thousands stands of small arms, with large quantities of army 
stores and ammunition, and seven hundred packed mules. Our 
immediate loss on tlie field in killed and wounded did not exceed 
sixty, among whom we had to lament the loss of that gallant 
and accomplished officer, Captain Charles Hansom, of the 
fourth infantry, and Lieutenant J. P. Johnstone of the first ar- 
tillery, who was serving with Magruder's battery, and fell at 
the guns on the evening before. The two brass six-pounders 
were re-taken here, by Captain Di'um, of the fourth artillery, 
Avhich was lost by that same regiment, yet without the loss of 
honor, at the bloody and fell-fought battle of Buena Vista. 

So complete and rapid was the rout of the Mexican forces, 
that all was over, and the victory won, before the approaching 
brigades of Worth's and Quitman's divisions were aljle to reach 
the scene ot action, so they were met and ordered back to their 
former respective positions, it was said that Santa Anna had 
ordered Valencia to abandon his position at the entrenched 
camp and fall back upon the strong reserve at San Angel, and 
thus he excuses himself for having suffered another signal de- 
feat, and charges it to the result of disobedience of orders on 
the part of Valencia. But I think that Valencia showed more 
prudence and foresight in defending his works to the last ex- 
tremity, than Santa Anna did in ordering him to evacuate them, 
for it was decidedly one of the strongest and best fortified posi- 
tions between that and the city, and was likely to give General 
Scott greater trouble, and cost him dearer to take it, than almost 
any other position they held. I think the great blunder of that 
fight may very justly be laid at the door of Santa Anna himself, 
and principally consisted in his refusing to aid Valencia with 
the twelve thousand troops of infantry and cavalry which were 
hovering in sight, and in easy supporting distance; and which, 
l)y prompt and energetic action, might have enabled Valencia 



138 scott's campaign 

to maintain his position, and have checked the American forces 
and driven them back upon San Augusiin. Many of the 
American officers considered the movement against so strong 
and well defended a point as Contreras. v.iihout cavah-y or ar- 
tillery, as an experiment of rather doubUVd propriety, while 
others went so far as to venture some shrewd speculidions upon 
the probable possibility of a total failure, and the ultimate con- 
sequences of being driven back upon ^^an Augustin, with the 
hope of turning San Antonio, and cutting a route in that direc- 
tion towards the city. 

Worth was ordered Ijack from Contreras with instructions to 
attack San Antonio in front with his whole force, as soon as 
Pillow's and Twiggs' divisions could reach its rear, marching 
from Contreras by the way of San Angel and Coyacan. It 
was considered of the utmost importance to the future success- 
ful movements of the army, that this strong position should be 
turned, as it would open a belter and shorter road to the city for 
the siege and other trains. Worth was not long idle, but push- 
ing on in double quick time, soon appeared with his whole- 
force before the gates of San Antonio, and by a series of skill- 
ful and daring movements, directed mostly against the front and 
right, he finally succeeded in forcing and turning that promi- 
nent and trouljlesonie position. 1'here is no doubt but that 
the splendid and brilliant victory of the morning over the 
forces of Valencia, which was considered the flower of the 
Mexican army, exercised no little influence on the minds and 
courage of the garrison at San Antonia, shaking their confi- 
dence in themselves, and causing them to falter in their pur- 
pose. For how could they expect to stand the earthquake 
shock, which recent victory gave a double impetus, when the 
strong wal!s of t'ontreras had tumlded down, and its iiightened 
garrison fled in dismay before the thundering tramp and echo- 
ing shout of the intrepid and fearless sons of Washington. 

The storming of San Antonio and the complete rout of the 
garrison, with all its favoraijle and advanlageous results, was 
the second brilliant victory which had crowned the zealous and 
vnitiring efforts of our brave and gallant trocps on that day, and 
which followed each other in such quick ai:d spirit succession, 
striking dismay and consternation among tiie Mexican forces, 
without giving them time to halt and breath:^ from one defeat to 
another; and from which they never finally recovered, until the 
proud eagles of Anahuac cowered before the magic influence 
of the Stars and Stripes, and the heaven-lit banners of the 
brave and free, floated above the tottering walls of the proud 
city of the Aztecs. 



IN MEXICO. 139 

But scarcely had the shouts of victory died away in the dis- 
tance, which announced the fall of San Antonio, and the cap- 
ture and rout of the garrison, when the guns of Taylor's bat- 
tery, and the muskets of Twiggs' division, announced the open- 
ing of the ball at Churnbusco, telling in tones of thunder that 
the third battle of that day had already commenced. Worth 
having accomplished, by a tew gallant and daring strokes of 
generalship, the oljiject of his mission to San Antonio, and see- 
ing no further active employment for his troops at that point, in- 
stantly united the different portions of his division and went in 
hot ]Mirsuit of the flying enemy, which led towards the next 
designated field of action. He was soon joined by the forces 
under General Pillow, who was hastening on from Coyoacan, 
l)y order of the General-in-Chief, to support him in forcing the 
works of San Antonio; but on hearing that that point had al- 
ready been cariied Ijy Worth, he immediatel}' turned to the left, 
and passing ii very rough road which was much impeded by 
ditches and swamps, hastened to join the advanced forces in the 
attack on Churnbusco, 

One of the strong points of defence at Churubusco was a 
place called the tele du pout, which was a strong field work, 
situated near the bridge, over which passes the main road from 
San Antonio towards the Capital. The other was a fortified 
church or convent, which proved to be a A^ery formidable jx)si- 
tion, and oFfF^wKich gave our troops much trouble, and cost 
them some hard fighting, and many valuable lives, to red-uce. 
These two fortified points were about four hundred yards apart, 
the latter of which — the convent — had been hotly pressed by 
Twiggs for more than an hour without making much impi'cssion, 
or gaining any important advantages, when the respective divi- 
sions of Worth and Pillow arrived, and commenced operations 
with great spirit and efl'ect upon the tete du pout; while the 
convent, or base of Twiggs' operations, was only at half gun 
shot to the left. 



CHAPTER XH. 

The Avhole available f<)rces, in and about the Cai)ital, together 
with the routed troops of Contrcras and San Antonio, amount- 
ing in all to near thirty thousand men, consisting of cavalry, ar- 
tillery and infantry, collected from all the works in every |)art 
of the Valley, were now concentrated within, or near the works 
in front, or hanging in view, and upon the flanks, and all within 



140 SCOTT S CAMPAIGN 

easy supporting distance, every one of whom seemed resolved 
to make a last and sanguinary eflort to save the Capital, and 
arrest the foot of the invader, which was now pressing hard 
upon them, within the very suburbs of the city. For it was 
well known to all parties, that if fate declared against the Mex- 
ican arms in this field, and they were driven from their present 
position, that the Avay would be open to the heart of the Capi- 
tal, and the weaker and less formidable defenses about the 
gates of the city, whicli vv'as now only four miles distant, would 
scarcely bring our enraged and maddened troops to a halt, as 
they swept on in their victorious career towards the Citadel. 
It was the general impression of the army that Scott intended 
to enter the city that evening, and which he might have done 
with all possible ease, and the last rays of that day's setting sun 
might have thrown the golden tints of its parting beams upon 
the bright iblds of the American flag as it floated in proud 
triumph upon the tall steeple of the National Palace. "The 
Capital of an ancient empire," says General Scott, "now of a 
great republic, or an early peace, the assailants were resolved 
to win. Not an American — and we were less than a third of 
the enemy's numbers — had a doubt as to the result." 

The enemy were playing at a bloody game, in which their 
opulent and beautiful city was the stake, and which they were 
not willing should be lost without a desperate struggle, and 
such a struggle as those only can make who are fighting before 
their own doors, with their v/ives and children at their backs, 
urging them on to defend their altars and their fires. Every 
house top, and dome, and steeple of that immense city was filled 
with crowding thousands of anxious spectators perhaps relatives 
and friends, all gazing intently upon the fearful scene ; while the 
pallid cheek, and the quick pulsations ol the heart, told the 
mighty interests that were at stake, and now trembling in the 
balance among the thunder and smoke of that bloody field. 
These considerations alone were sufficient to have inspired 
every heart in the Mexican army, and lit up the dull affections 
of the coldest bosom with the vestal fires of patriotism, and 
nerved the arm of the most inert soldier to deeds of nobler 
daring. 

Garland's brigade, together with the light battalion under 
the orders of Colonel Smith, commenced a forward movement 
in order to reach a favorable position, from which to commence 
an assault, if necessary, against the strong and formidable 
works of the tele du pont, which Avas executed in fine style, al- 
though the advancing columns were exposed to a well-directed 
and destructive fire from a long line of infantry which had been 



IN MEXICO. 141 

posted on the loft of the bridge, Clark, also of Worth's divi- 
sion, ordered his brigade to move in the same direction with 
the assaulting forces, and in a direct line along the main road, 
and close by its side; while the 11th and 14th regiment? of In- 
fantry from Pillow's division, moved to the support, and partici- 
pated in the direct movement against the works in front. From 
the peculiar manner in wliich they Vv'ere compelled to advance, 
Clark's brigade, in particular, and in fact the whole line of ad- 
vancing columns, were made to suffer quite severeh from the 
very spirited fire which was kept up incessantly from the ene- 
my's whole line. And the destruction of life would have been 
much greater, caused by the sharp-shooters from the fortified con- 
vent, which would have poured a galling fire into our flanks, 
but for the circumstance of Twiggs' keeping them busj-, and 
their attention drawn to the other side of the works, where he 
was giving them some pretty warm employment about that time. 
The assaulting columns, by a skilful and daring movement, 
soon reached the desired position which had bren designated 
as the point from which the assault v/as to commence, when, 
with a shout that shook the trembling works of the enemy, and 
startled the grim-visaged men at their guns, the charge com- 
menced, and the strong and powerful position of the rock-bound 
leie clu pout was assaulted and carried at the point of the bayo- 
net. The first troops across the deep and boggy ditch that pro- 
tected the enemy's works, were the gallant 8th and 5th Infantry, 
led respectively by Major Waite and Colonel Scott, which was 
instantly follov/ed, and closely pressed, by the 6lh Infantry of 
the same brigade, which had been much exposed throughout the 
day, and suffered greatly in the advance; the llth and 14th, 
under Colonels Graham and Trousdale, brought up the rear, 
and completed the rout. About the same moment, Colonel 
Garland succeeded in repulsing the enemy in his front, who 
had stood the fierce and deadly onset for near two hours, but 
finally gave way in wild and confused disorder, and sent their 
flying and shattered columns in a hasty retreat towards .the 
Capital. The result of this immediate victory was the capture 
of three field pieces, together with about two hundred prison- 
ers, besides a large quantity of ammunition and military stores, 
and several stands of colors. Our loss was also pretty severe ; 
among those who fell before the v>alls of the enemy, none 
was more universally lamented than the brave and accom- 
plished Lieutenant J. F. Irons, who fell mortally wounded by 
a cannon ball just before the works were carried ; lie was aid- 
de-camp to General Cadwalader, and had distinguished him- 
self on several previous occasions, and Avas highly respected 



142 SCOTt's CAMPAiaN 

and beloved, both as a gentleman and an officer, by all who 
knew him. 

It is very evident that the spirited and well sustained attack 
upon the fortihed church, or convent, favored very much the 
successful termination of the assault on the tete du jjoni, and to 
the same extent, no doubt, the fall of the latter had a reciprocal 
influence in securing the surrender of the former. Some of 
the captured pieces of the teie du pont were turned and brought 
to bear upon the convent with decided efiect, while Colonel 
Duncan brought two of his guns, at short range, to play upon 
the same point, from a position on tlie San Antonio road; the 
fearful and destructive etiects of which were soon apparent upon 
the face of the works and upon the tower of the church, 'rhe 
steeple of the church had been hiled at all times vvith the ene- 
my's best marksmen and most skillful sharp-shooters, among 
whom were many of Riley's deserters, and it was, no doubt, 
their shots which told with such fearful efiect upon the assault- 
ing columns, for they fought like desperadoes with halters about 
their necks; and the moment one of them would fall at his post, 
another would instantly take his place ; and Santa Anna him- 
self remarked that if he had had a few hundred moi-e such men 
as Riley's he would have gained the victory. The eneuiy's 
position at this place was a very strong one, being protected, as 
they were, by thick stone walls, which they conceived to be 
impervious to the advances of any foe, and within the protect- 
ing arms of which they felt secure ; but Twiggs soon taught 
them another lesson, and the guns of Duncan and Taylor found 
them in their hiding places, and told upon the most vital parts 
of their position with fearful and deadly efiect. At length, 
after a most desperate and sanguinary conflict, which raged 
with unaljated fury for more than two hours, during which time 
the lines of" the defense and assault looked like blazing maga- 
zines of death ; while the thunder of the cannon, and the roar 
of musketry, shook the earth for miles around, and rolled the 
earthqijake tones of battle over the tall summits of the distant 
mountains. About half an hour after the fall of the ieie du pont, 
the church, or fortihed convent, including the whole line of field 
Avorks, extending far along the ditch or rivulet of Churubusco, 
forming a complete citadel of defense, gave way before the 
impetuous onset of the svi'eeping columns of Twiggs' division, 
and instantly hung out white flags upon various parts of their 
works. Captain Alexander, at the head of the third Infantry, 
has the credit of clearing his way by fire and bayonet, and be- 
ing the first to enter the enemy's works; while Captain Smith 
and Lieutenant Shepherd, with their respective companies of 



IN MEXICO. • 148 

the same regiment, have the honor of heading the assault, and 
entering the works together; the former of which was fortunate 
enough to receive the surrender of the enemy ; and their gal- 
lant leader, Captain Alexander, instantly displayed the colors 
of his regiment froo) the balcony of the church, Avhich was sa- 
luted by the long and loud shouts of the victorious troops, as 
column after column rushed into the captured works. This 
victory is called by General Scott, "the /owr/7t grand achieve- 
ment of our arms on the same day," and which, taking into 
consideration the overwhelming superiority of numbers, and 
the advantageous positions Avhich they held, with many other 
ditbculties which our army had to meet and overcome, is with- 
out a parallel in the annals ot war. Scott had marched with 
giant strides from conquest to conquest, until the eagle ot victory, 
for the fourth time since the rising of the morning's sun, had 
perched with bright pinions upon the banner of the stars. 

Captain Taylor, with his splendid field battery, acted a very 
effective and conspicuous part in reducing the enemy's Works 
in front; he commenced operations on the outer walls of the 
convent at quite an early stage of the fight, but his position 
v.as a very exposed one, and he suflered very much from the 
galling and incessant fire which swept and tore through his 
ranks from almost the whole line of the enemy's front. Not- 
withstanding the very perilous and critical condition of this 
battery, yet the officers and men never flinched a moment from 
their duty, but continued to blaze away, round after round, at 
the enemy in one continued roar, enveloped the while in sheets 
of fire and clouds of smoke, the effects of which was [)lainly 
perceptible on all parts of the point of attack. But at length 
the fire became so hot that it could be stood no longer, and 
after suffering a great and fearful loss of both men and horses, 
the battery was ordered to be withdrawn from the scene of 
action, in an almost totally disabled condition, which was done 
only about half an hoiu- before the final sunender of the works. 
But both Captain Taylor and his officers and men did all that 
could have been expected of brave and experienced troops, and 
won for themselves the universal applause and admiration of 
the whole army. This victory resulted in the capture of seven 
field pieces of large calibre, together with large quantities of 
annnunition and ordnance stores, and one stand of colors, three 
generals, and one thousand two hundred and sixty-one prison- 
ei-j. ificluding other officers of all grades. Our loss was con- 
siderable, and among which are numbered five of our most 
gallant and experienced officers, who gloriously fell amidst the 
roar of battle, before the enemy's works, fighting gallantly to 



144 . SCOTT S CAMPAIGN 

the last. Some two hours and a half before the fall of these 
works, Pierce's, together with the volunteer brigade, all under 
the command of Brigadier General Shields, has been ordered, 
as a detachment, to move towards the left, in order, if possible, 
to turn the enemy's works, cut off the retreat of the garrison, 
and prevent the extension of the enemy's lines from the rear, 
around, and upon our left. The numerical strength of these 
two brigades were considered too limited, when the dangerous 
and daring object of the movement, and the great difficulties 
which lay in the way of its accomplishment, were brought to 
view, and it was considered necessary to detach the rifles, 
which were sent forward a little later, as a reinforcement to the 
two advanced brigades. The direction of m^arch pursued by 
Shields' command led them through a laige and heavy corn 
field, which having been passed, it reached another field more 
open, but wet and swampy, and in which was situated the haci- 
enda De los Portales, beyond which was discovered the route 
which the enemy would most likely pass in retiring from Chu- 
rubusco. Here was also found posted a strong reserve of about 
four thousand of the enemy's best troops, occupying a position 
just in rear of the town. It was the intention of Oen. Shields, 
after discovering the position of those troops, to make a move- 
ment to the left, and endeavor to flank the enemy on his right, 
and throw a portion of his troops between them and the city. 
But finding their right supported by large bodies of cavalry, 
numbering more than three thousand strong, and the ground 
over which he would have to pass being composed of deep 
muddy marshes, and pools of standing water, he deemed it 
most prudent, under the circumstances, to withdraw his men 
under cover of the hacienda, and attack the enemy in front. 
The Palmetto regiment was selected as the base of the line of 
batile upon which the other troops were to form, and from which 
the attack on the enemy's front was intended to have commenced. 
This gallant, but fated regiment, was then put in motion, and 
with firm and unflinching step moved steadily and rapidly for- 
ward, presenting to the enemy a bold and unlnoken front, and 
pressing vigorously onward in the flice of a perfect hail-storm 
of musketry, as terrible and deadly in its efiects as any body 
of troops was ever called upon to meet. But onward, and still 
onward, they bent their steady course, although their fast thin- 
ning columns were melting away like snow-flakes upon the 
river, and rank after rank Vv^ould sink down at every discharge; 
but they continued to close up the awful gaps and push forward, 
stumbling over the dead bodies of their comrades. At length, 
the fearful cry is heard, " Buder has fallen /" — a half-suppressed 



IN MEXICO. ' 145 

murmer Hashed along the still advancing lines, and while the 
unbidden tear bedewed the sun-burnt cheek of the warrior, 
muttering curses of vengeance were heard issuing from the 
clenched teeth of that orphan regiment. At this moment, 
General Shields is seen to dash along their lines, exclaiming in 
tones that chilled the heart's blood, '•' Pahnetloes! your Colonel 
has fallen ! Avenge his death!" And then with a shout that 
shook the gory field, and rolled back its startling echoes from 
the distant hills, they bounded forth, hurling their ranks of liv- 
ing steel in the face of the astonished and panic-stricken loe. 
It was but the work of a moment — a shout — a shriek — and all 
was over; the enemy was %ing in every direction like broken 
fragi^^snts of angry clouds, rent in sunder by the breath of the 
storm. The New York regiment, under its brave and gallant 
leader. Colonel Burnett, and the 12th and 15th regiments of In- 
fiintry, firmed in beautiful array, their long extended columns 
on the right, the 9th forming on the left, when the whole col- 
umn advanced, opening a brisk and steady fire as they came 
up, and moving steadily fjrward upon the enemy's lines. The 
Mexicans observing this movement, began to falter in their pur- 
pose, and their firing grew less spirited and frequent. At 
length the order to charge was given, v^'hich was answered 
with a shout and a bound, and in a moment Shields' whole com- 
mand was upon them, and scattering their broken and disor- 
dered ranks, finished the bloody work with the bayonet, and 
sent the shattered iiagments of a routed army flying in dense 
and broken masses towards the city. 

Just as Shields had reached the main road. Worth's division 
was seen in the distance, driving the enemy from his strong po- 
sition at Churubusco, and pursuing him like a tempest towards 
the gates of the Capital. Shields commanding the advance, 
pushed on his conquering hosts, pressing hard upon the enemy's 
rear, cutting down his ranks at every step, until he was passed 
by Harney's brigade of cavalry, which came thundering down 
the road, hurling themselves like an avalanche upon the flying 
columns of the i-outed foe, whom they pursued to the very walls 
of the city, cutting off hundreds whom they overtook in the 
flight, leaving the track strewed with the dead bodies of the 
frightened fugitives. This was the fifth victory since the rising 
of the sun, and v.hich terminated the brilliant and unparalleled 
series of events which carried our victorious army in triumph to 
the very threshold of the Mexican Capital, crowned with the 
green laurels reaped from the bloody harvest of five well-fought 
and well-won fields on the same day. And these master strokes 
ot generalship followed each other In such (luick and spirited 
7' 



146 iscott's Camfaiuin 

succession, that the blood was yet warm ou the green hills of 
Contreras ere it had ceased to flow at the gates of the city. 

Ill the two regiments of Shields' brigade, (South Carolina 
and New York,) numbering only about eight hundred men in 
the fight of that afternoon, the loss is conij)utcd at two hundred 
and fifty; the Palmetto regiment alone lost one hundred and 
thirty-seven in killed and wounded, among the former was its 
gallant commander, Colonel Pierce Mason Butler, \\'ho had left 
his sick bed to share the glojy and lace the dangers of the bat- 
tle field, at the head of his regiment. Early in the figlit he had 
his horse shot under him, but nothing daunted, he leaped from 
his bleeding charger, and urged his way on foot ; a tew steps 
further, and he received a very severe wovmd in the leg; this 
stopped him but for a moment, for as soon as it was ascertained 
that the bone was not fractured, he hastily Ijound it with a 
handkerchief, and in an instant was again upon his feet and 
pressing forward towards his regiment with the blood from his 
wound still llowing and unstaunched. He appears again at the 
headoi his command, encouraging his men, and urging them 
ou to deeds of noble daring ; but the pleasure of this proud and 
envious position was of short dui-ation, for just as the charge 
was sounded he received the fatal shot which pierced bis brain, 
and he fell and expired without a groan. Thus died the brave 
and lamented Butler, in the very arms of victor}', and on the 
gory field of his well-won fame, while his fallen men lay thick 
around him, adding another distinguished name to the bright 
roll of South Carolina chivalry. 

Lieutenant Colonel Dickinson, of the same regiment, also 
fell mortally Avounded at the head of his command, and while 
gallantly bearing forward the colors of his corps. Major Glad- 
den then took command of the glorious Palmettoes, and snatch- 
ing the falling standard as it fell from the hands of Dickinson, 
with its silken folds crimsoned with his blood, and waving it 
aloft at the head of his regiment, which saluted it with three 
cheers, and then banding it to Patrick Leonard, a ])rave and 
generous son of the Emerald Isle, who gallantly bore it forth, 
though perfectly riddled with bullets, in the face of that fearful 
storm that rained its leaden deaths so thick around. And in 
order to do justice to all, it miglit be proper to remark that 
Sergeant Beggs was shot down with the colors in his hand, 
beford Leonard received them. The same regiment had also 
to lament the death of Lieutenants Adams, Clark, and Wil- 
liams, who fell fighting in the hottest of the battle, and stimu 
lating their men, both by word and deed, to rush upon the 
treacherous foe, and end the bloody conflict with the bayonet. 



IX MKXICO. 147 

The New York regiment also greatly distinguished itself) and 
won the merited applause of all. Colonel Burnett, their bravo 
and gallant leader, was severely wounded early in the action, 
when the command ot" his regiment devolved upon Lieutenant 
Colonel Baxter, whose skill and courage as an officer Avere 
abundantly manifested from the regular and orderly manner in 
which he led the gallant Yorkers, inciting them to glorious 
deeds of daring bravery. 

The skillful and efficient services ofDoctors Clark and Bland 
of the Palmetto Regiment, and Doctors IJalstead and McKeb- 
bin of the New York regiment, were spoken of in the highest 
terms of consmendation and praise l)y General Shields in his 
official report. In this last engagement, Shields' command 
captured four hundred prisoners, among whom were six officers 
of different grades, besides forty-two deserters, at the head of 
which was the notorious Colonel Reily, who had distinguished 
himself and command by his vigorous and spirited defence of 
Monterey, and at various olher places during the war; his men 
soon met the fate they so richly deserved at the arms of the 
gallows, which ho himself escaped, and is now, I learn, a pri- 
soner in the Caslle of Perote. General Scott says, in his re- 
port of the battle of Churubusco, that "it cannot be doubted 
that the rage of the conflict between Shields' command and the 
strong forces of the enemy, in rear of the tete duponf, and con- 
vent, had some influence on the surrender of those formidable 
defences." 

Thus, in one single day, did the American army, consisting 
of less thani ten thousand men, in five bloody, successful, and 
well-fought ])attles, completely defeat and rout 130,000 of the 
enemy's forces, taking 3,000 prisoners, including eight general 
officers, two of whom had filled the Presidential chair of the 
Republic, together with 205 other oilicers of different grades, 
besides killing and wounding 4,000 of the rank and file, while 
the spirit and energy of the entire army of defence were com- 
pletely broken down, and its broken columns scattered and fly- 
ing in every direction. Thirty-seven pieces of heavy ordnance 
fell into our hands upon the field, besides immense numbers of 
small arms of every quality and description, and a very large 
quantity of ammunition and military stores. Our own loss 
during the day is estimated at 1,053, including killed and 
wounded; 139 of whom, including 16 ofilcers, were killed, and 
876, including 60 officers, were wounded. 

General Quitman, with a portion of his division — the 2d 
Pennsylvania regiment of volunteers, and a detachment of 
United States marines — were left to guard the depot at San 



148 SCOTT 8 CAMPAIGI^ 

Augustin, where had been placed our sick and wounded, together 
with the siege and baggage trains, consequently that gallant 
General was driven to the painful necessity of lying inactive 
durieg the exciting and stirring scenes that surrounded him, 
without being permitted to participate in the glorious achieve- 
ments of the day. 

General Scott has been censured l)y some for not entering 
and occupying the city on the evening of the 20th, when his 
victorious army, flushed with victory, and confident of success, 
was thundering at the gates; and which he himself acknow- 
ledges he could have done, sword in hand, with a very trifling 
additional loss. But he was restrained, no doubt, by proper and 
humane motives ; denying himself, for the advancement of the 
vital interests of both nations, the eclat which would have 
attended the triumphant entry of a victorious general into the 
chief city of a wealthy and powerful republic. He wished to 
give the enemy time to reflect upon the propriety of negociating 
upon the subject of peace, as that was the oljject which he most 
desired to accomplish, whenever it could be done on just and 
honorable terms, and he intended on this occasion to afford 
them another opportunity of accepting the olive l)ranch of peace 
which they had spurned so often bejbre- Both Mr. Tiist and 
the Commander-in-Chief had been advised by the friends of 
peace, among whom were foreigners, neutrals, and Americans 
residing in and out of the city, to be as moderate as justice 
would admit, and guard against too much precipitation, lest a 
different course might drive the enemy to despair, and thereb}- 
have a tendency to scatter the elements of peace, and protract 
the satisfactory adjustment of the unfortunate existing difiicul- 
ties between the two naiions. He expressed a willingness to 
leave something to this excited and distracted people, which 
could be of no immediate use to him, and which might serve 
them as a point upon which to fall back, where they might rest 
their pride, and recover their temper, and prepare for cool, de- 
liberate reflection upon their present wretched and hopeless 
condition, which might have a tendency to bring them to terms. 
Our army, with some manifestations of reluctance on their 
part, was halted by superior orders before the gates of the city, 
where, after attending to the dead and wounded, they sank down 
exhausted upon the ground, and snatched a few hours repose 
upon the bloody fiekl of their last sanguinary eflbrt. The deaf- 
ening roar of the deep-mouthed cannon had died away, and 
the noisy engines of death were hushed and stiU, while the 
murky columns of sulphurious smoke hung around lilve angry 
clouds, shutting out the soft twilight, shi'ouding the living and 



IN MEXICO. 149 

tha dead — the wearied and battle-worn hosts, as with the pall 
of death. Many, very many, slept their last long sleep upon 
the chilly bosom of that rent and torn field, over which the 
battle storm had swept in its wildest finy, and from which they 
shall only awake amid the rockings of time's last earthquake, 
and the tailing ruins of dissolving nature. Their bones repose 
beneath the cold damp sod of that beautiful valley, while they 
latten the soil of the enemy with as pure heart's blood as ever 
flowed from patriot breasts. 

On the morning of the 2lst, General Scott was making pre- 
parations to take such favorable positions as would enable him 
to open his heavier pieces with advantage upon the city, and 
place it in his power to act cfleclively either in battering or as- 
saulting operations. After having made a proper disposition of 
his troops, and having gained the advantageous positions con- 
templated, it was his intention, formndly, to summon the city to 
surrender upon honorable conditions, or sign an armistice for 
the purpose of immediately entering into negociations for peace. 
But he was prevented from carrying his plans into operation for 
the time, by a flag of truce which came out from the city with 
propositions for the suspension of hostilities, the terms of which 
was rejected by the Commander-in-Chief of the American 
forces. General Scott then declined the idea of sending the 
contemplated summons to surrender, but addressed, instead 
thereof, a note to President Santa Anna, the result of which 
was the appointing of Commissioners by the commanders of 
both armies on the 22d, and on the 23d, ratifications were 
signed by the said Commissioners thus appointed, and on the 
24th those ratifications were duly exchanged, and an armistice 
furmally entered into between the two parties. Thus the 
causes of difierence and grounds of dispute between the two 
governments were placed in the hands, and at the disposal of 
their plenipotentiaries, and which was immediately .followed by 
a total suspension of hostilities, pending the deliberations of 
the several Commissioners. During which time the different 
corps of the invading army were quartered in the neighboring 
towns and villages, where they Vi^ere protected against the in- 
clemencies of the v/eather, and also furnished with most of the 
conveniences necessary to render a soldier's life tolerably com- 
ibrtable. The following General Orders, No. 262, contain 
the sixteen articles setting fn'th the terms or conditions of the 
armistice : 



150 scott s campaign 

Head Quarters of the Army, ) 
Taciihaya, Avgvst 24, 1847. \ 
General Orders, No. 262. 

The following Military Convention is published for the infor- 
mation and strict government of the American army, its retain- 
ers and followers. Any infraction of one or more articles of 
the said Convention shall be followed by rigoroua punishment: 

The undersigned, appointed respectively, the three first by 
Major General Winficld Scott, commander-in-chief of the armies 
of the United States, and the two last by his Excellency D. 
Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, President of the Mexican Re- 
public, and commander-in-chief of its armies, met with full 
powers, which were duly verilied, in the village of Tacubaya, 
on the 22d day of August, 1847, to enter into an arniistice, for 
the purpose of giving the Mexican govci-nment an opportunity 
of receiving propositions of peace from the Commissioner ap- 
pointed by the President of the United States, and now with the 
American army, when the following articles were agreed upon : 

Art. 1. Hostilities shall instantly and absolutely cease be- 
tween the armies of the United States of America and the 
United Mexican States, within thirty leagues of the Capital of 
the latter States, to SUow time to the Commissioner appointed 
by the United States, and the Commissioners to be appointed by 
the Mexican Republic, to negociate. 

2. This armistice shall continue as long as the Commission- 
ers of the two Governments maybe engaged in negociations, 
or until the commander of either of the said armies shall give 
formal notice to the other of the cessation of the armistice, and 
for forty-eight hours alter such notice. 

3. In the mean time, neither army shall, within thirty leagues 
of the city of Mexico, commence any new fortifications, or mil- 
itary work of oifence or defence, or do any thing to enlarge or 
strengthen any existing work or fortification of that character 
within the said limits. 

4. Neither army shall be reinforced within the same. Any 
reinforcements in troops or munitions of war, other than sub- 
sistence novv^ approaching either army, shall be stopped at 
tlie distance of at least twenty-eight leagues from the city of 
Mexico. 

5. Neither army, nor any detachment from it, shall advance 
beyond the line it at present occupies. 

6. Neither army, nor any detachment or individual of either, 
shall pass the neutral limits estal)lished by the last article, ex- 
cept under flags of truce bearing the correspondence between 
the two armies, or on business authorized hy the next article; 



IN MEXICO. 



131 



and individuals of either army who may chance to straggle- 
within the neutral limits, shall, by the opposite party be kindly 
warned off, or sent ])ack to their own army under flags ot truce. 

7. The American army shall not by violence obstruct the 
passage from the open country into the city of Mexico, of the 
ordinary supplies of food necessary to the consumption of its 
inhab/itants, or the Mexican army within the city ; nor shall the 
Mexican authorities, civil or military, do any act to obstruct the 
passage of supplies from the city or country needed by the 
American army. 

8. All American prisoners of war remaining in the hands of 
the Mexican army, and not heretofore exchanged, shall imme- 
diately, or as soon as practicable, be restored to the American 
army against a like number (having regard to rank) of Mexican 
prisoners captured by the American ainiy. 

9. * * * * [Omitted.] (See Mexican ratification.) 

10. The better to enable the belligerent armies to execute 
these articles, and to favor the great ol/ject of peace, it is further 
agreed between the parties, that any courier with despatches 
that either army shall desire to send along the line from the 
city of Mexico, or its vicinity, to and from Vera Cruz, shall 
receive a safe conduct from the commands of the opposing 
army. 

11. The administration of justice between Mexico, accord- 
ing to the General ajid State constitutions and laws, by the 
local authorities f()r the towns and places occupied by the 
American forces, shall not be obstructed in any manner. 

12. Persons and property shall be respected in the towns 
and p'aces occupied by the American forces. No person shall 
be molested in the exercise of his profession; nor shall the 
services of any one be required without his consent. In all 
cases where services are voluntarily rendered, a just price shall 
be paid; and trade remain unmolested. 

13. Those wounded persons who may desire to remove to 
some convenient place for the purpose of being cured of their 
wounds, shall be allowed to do so without molestation, they still 
remaining prisoners of war. 

14. Those Mexican medical officers who may wish to attend 
the wounde^d, shall have the privilege of doing so, it their ser- 
vice be required. 

15. For the moie perfect execution of this agreement, two 
Commissioners shall be appointed — one by each party — who, 
in case of a disagreement, shall appoint a third. 

16. This Convention shall have no force or effect unless ap- 
proved by their Excellencies the commanders respectively of 



152 Scott's campaign 

the two armies, M'ithin twenty-four hours, reckoning iiom 6 
o'clock, a. m., of the 22d clay of August, 1847. 

J. A. QUITMAN, Major General U. S. A. 

PERSIFER F. SMITH, Brevet Brig. Gen. U. S. A. 

FRANKLIN PIERCE, Brigadier General U. S. A. 

IGNACIO DE MORA Y VILLAMIL. 

BENITO QUUANO. 

Head Quarters of the Army of the U. S. of AmeFvIca, } 
Tacuhaija, August 23, 1847. ^ 
Considered, approved, and ratified, with the express under- 
standing that the word " supplies," as used the second time, and 
without fpialification, in the second article of this Military Con- 
vention, (American copy,) shall be taken to mean — as in both 
the British and American armies — arms, ammunition, clothing, 
equipments, subsistence, (for men,) ibragc, money, and in 
general all the wants of Ihe army. That word ".<fj<p/)Z/c.9" in 
the Mexican copy is erroneously translated "viveres'' instead 
of rccursos. WINF!ELD SCOTT, 

General-in-Chief U. S. Army. 

Palacxo National de Mexico, } 
August 24, de 1847. <) 
Ratificando, suprimiendose el articulo 9° y con esplicacion 
del 4° en el sentido de que la paz temporal de este arinisticio 
se observara en la capital y veinte ocho leguas al rededor; 
convenido en que la palabra supj)lics se traduzca recursos, y 
que en ella se comprenda lo que pueda haber, menesta el 
ejercito, escepto armas y municiones. 

ANTONIO LOPEZ DE SANTA ANNA. 

Head Quarters of the Army of the U. S. of America, ) 
Taculxiya, August 24, 4847. ^ 

I arcept and ratifv the foregoing qualifications added by the 
President (Jeneral of tiie Mexican Republic. 

WINFIELD SCOTT. 
By command of Major (Tcneral Scott. 

H. L. SCOTT, A. A. A^ General. 

Head Quarters of the Army of the U. S. of America, ) 
Tacubaya, September 6, 4847. \ 

To His Excellency the President and General-in-Chief of the 
Mexican Republic : 
Sir: The 7th article, as also the 12th, that stipulates that 
trade shall remain unmolested — of the armistice, or Military 



IN MEXICO. 158 

Convention, which I had the honor to ratify and to exchange 
with your Excellency the 24th ultimo — have been repeatedly 
violated, beginning soon afterdate, on the part of iMexico; and 
I now have good reason to believe that, within the last forty, 
eight hours, if not earlier, the 3d article of that Convention 
has been equally violated by the same party. Those direct 
breaches of faith give to this army the most perfect right to 
resume hostilities against Mexico without any notice whatever; 
but to allow time for possible explanation, apology and repara- 
tion, I now give formal notice that, unless full satisfactions on 
those allegations should be received by me before 12 o'clock, 
meridian, to-morrow, I shall consider the said armistice at an 
end from and after that hour. 

I have the honor to be, your Excellency's most obedient 
servant, WINFIELD SCOTT. 

[translation".] 
Head Quarters, ^nny of Mexican Republic, } 
Mexico, September 6, 1847. ) 
Sir : By the note of your Excellency, under this date, I learn 
with surprise that you consider that the civil and military au- 
thorities of Mexico have violated articles seven, twelve, and 
three, of the armitice which I concluded with your Excellency 
on the 24th of last month. The civil and military authorities 
of Mexico have not obstructed the passage of provisions for the 
American army; and if at times their transmission has been 
retarded, it has been owing to the imprudence of the American 
agents, who, without having a previous understanding with the 
proper authorities, gave occasion for popular outbreaks, which 
it has caused the Mexican government much troul)le to repress. 
Last night and the night before, the escorts for the provision 
train were ready to start, and were only detained because Mr. 
Hargous, the agent, desired it. The orders given to suspend 
the intercourse between the two armies were addressed to pri- 
vate individuals, and not to the agents of the army of the United 
States, and were intended purposely to expedite the transmission 
of provisions to the army, by conthiing the intercourse to that 
object exclusively. In return for this conduct, your Excellency 
has prevented the owners or managers of the grain mills in the 
vicinity of the city from furnishing any flour to the city, which 
is a breach of the good faith your Excellency had pledged fo 
me. It is false that any new work or fortification has been un- 
dertaken, Ijecause one or two repairs have only served to place 
them in the same condition they were on the day the armistice 
was entered into; accident, or the convenience of the moment 



154 scott's campaigx 

having caused the destruction of the then existing works. I 
had very early notice of the establishment of the battery behind 
the mud wall of the house called Garay's, in the town occu- 
pied by you, and did not remonstrate, because the peace ot the 
two great republics could not be made to depend upon things 
grave in themselves, but of little value compared to the result 
in which all the friends of humanity and of the prosperity of 
the American continent lake so great an interest. It is not 
without great grief, and even indignation, that I have received 
communications from the cities and villages occupied by the 
army of your Excellency, in relation to the violation of the 
temples dedicated to the worship of (iod; to the plunder of the 
sacred vases, and to the profanation of the images venerated by 
the Mexican people. Profoundly have I been afflicted 1)y the 
complaints of fathers and husbands, of the violence offered to 
their daughters and Avives ; and these same cities and villages 
have been sacked, not only in violation of the armistice, but 
of the sacred principles proclaimed and respected l)y civilized 
nations. I have observed silence to the present moment, in 
order not to obstruct the progress of the negociations which 
held out the hope of terminating a scandalous war, and one 
which your Excellency has characterized so justly as unnatural. 
But I shall desist offering apologies, Ijecause 1 cannot be blind 
to the truth, that the true cause of threats of renewing hostili- 
ties, contained in the note of your Excellency, is, that I have 
not been willing to sign a treaty which would 'essen considera- 
bly not only the territory of the repu])lic, but that dignity and 
integrity which all nations defend to the last extremity. And if 
these considerations have not the same weight in the mind of 
your Excellency, the responsibility before the world, who can 
easily distinguish on whose side is moderation and justice, will 
fall upon you. I flatter myself that your Excellency will be 
convinced, on calm reflection, of the weight of my reasons. 
But if, by misfortune, you should seek only a pretext to deprive 
the first city of the American continent of an opportunity to free 
the unarmed population of the horrors of war, there will be left 
me no other means of saving them but to repel force by force, 
with the decision and energy which my high obligation imposes 
upon me. 

I have the honor to bo, your Excellency's very obedient 
servant, ANTONIO LOPEZ DE SANTA ANNA. 

A true copy of the original. Mexico, September 7, 1847. 

JOSE DE ROMERO, 



In ME.xiro, 155 

It appears from the foregoing correspondence of the com- 
niraiders of the two armie?;, that three articles of the armistice 
liad, in the opinion of the American commander, been violated 
repeatedly on the part of Mexico: and laboring under these 
convictions, he addressed a note to General Santa Anna, under 
date of the 6;h of September, in which he informs his Excel- 
lency, that unless a full and satisfactory explanation of the 
matter be received befiire 12 o'clock, meridian, on the next day, 
he should consider the armistice at an end from and after that 
hour, and proceed to direct his operations accordingly. Santa 
Anna replies in a tolerably long and desultory letter of the same 
date, in which he endeavors to evade or deny the allegations 
contained in General Scott's note; and after some vague and 
bitter recrimination, finally charges him of being governed 
in this particular by some ulterior and improper motive. 

Apart from the objectionable tone and temper of this reply 
of the Mexican conmiander, and the harsh and indelicate lan- 
guage in which it is couched, he gives us a specimen of his 
bombast and play upon words, and totally fails to give a satis- 
factory explanation of his objectionable conduct in regard to the 
violation of the terms of the armistice, and hence the General- 
in-Chief of the American forces proceeds foithwith to make 
preparations for the re-commencement of hostilities. 



CHAPTER XIII. 

On the 7th of September, a complete reconnoisance of the 
enemy's works near the castle of Chapultepcc was made, ac- 
companied in person by General Worth and the Commander- 
in-Chief, when it was determined that the first movement should 
be made against that point of the Mexican fortifications called 
"El Molinodel Rey," or the King's Mill, where it was ascer- 
tained that there was a foundry for moulding cannon, which 
was then, and had been in successful operation for some time 
past. This position of the enemy was pronounced by the re- 
connoitering party a very strong and well-defended point, ex- 
hibiting a series of long extended lines of numerous cavalry 
and infantry corps, and which were sustained by a heavy field 
battery of four guns, and occupying a continuous or collateral 
line of defenses connected with the summit and Castle of Cha- 
pultepcc. 

These operations resulted in a very thorough examination 
and satisfactory knowledge of the size and extent of those works, 



156 scott's campaign 

together with the number and disposition of the forces. But 
the final results will show that the Engineers were in some 
measure deceived, and that very little correct infoj-mation was 
gained as to the strength ol' the works and the number of guns 
mounted, as some of the Ijatteries were carefully masked, and 
concealed to an extent which rendered it almost impossible to 
learn any thing definite about them. 

General Worth's division, reintorced by Cadvvalader's bri- 
gade, consisting of about eight hundred men, together with 
three squadrons of dragoons, and one company of mounted 
riflemen, numljeriiig in all about (wo hundred and seventy men, 
under the command of Major Sumner, 2d dragoons; and the 
field artillery and battering guns belonging to the commands of 
Captains Drum and Huger, were ordered by the Commander- 
in-Chief to be attached to the command of General Worth, 
and be in readiness to move against the stone walls ofMolino 
del Rey at day-light on the morning of the eighth. It appears 
that the prime object of this movement was the destruction of 
the machinery and material composing the foundry and works 
for casting cannon in and about El Molino del Rey; and 
Worth's operations for that day was limited by superior orders 
to that particular point, although forming an immediate junction 
with the stronger works of the castle on the hill. After the re- 
duction of these works, the rout of the foe, and the destruction 
of the machinery, which was the special object which Worth, 
with his connnand, was directed to accomplish, he was ordered 
to withdraw his forces immediately, and march them directly 
back to their former position in the village of Tacubaya, and 
report to General head-quarters. Captain Mason, of the En- 
gineers, had, on the morning of the 7th, made a careful, but 
bold and daring reconnoisance, in which he had been enabled 
to make many important observations and discoveries which 
were of infinite advantage to the assaulting forces in their sub- 
sequent movements. On the enemy's left was a number of 
very strong and substantial stone buildings, which were called 
Molino del Rey, (King's Mill,) and which contained the foundry 
and machinery in question, and which was defended by a large 
body of troops forming their extreme left. These mills were 
contiguous to a beautiful and extensive grove at the foot of the 
hill, and immediately under the guns of the castle upon its 
summit. The extreme right of the line of fortifications extended 
towards, and rested upon, another laige building equally strong 
and defensible, and likewise built of stone, with immensely 
thick and almost impi'egnable walls, and is known by the appel- 
lation of " Casa Pvlata," and is situated at the foot of the hill 



IN MEXICO. 157 

that reaches towards the village of Tacubaya, and slopes gently 
and gradually thence to the level and extensive plain below. 
At a proper intermediate distance between these two strong 
and well-fortified positions, they had erected their field battery, 
on either side of which were arranged the enemy's heavy bat- 
talions and long extended lines of infantry, which were intended 
to cover and support it in case of an assault. The reconnoi- 
sance was repeated on the afternoon of the 7th by Captain 
Mason and Colonel Duncan, and with the same results as be- 
fore, and corroborating the conclusion that the centre of the 
enemy's line of works was the weakest point, and that his 
flanks were stronger, and would be more ditficult to turn, espe- 
cially the one on the left, or the main works of the mill, com- 
posed of strong stone houses. This whole line of defense was 
almost immediately connected with, and overlooked by, the 
stronger works of the Castle and Citadel on the heights above, 
so much so that both appeared like only one continuous line of 
fortifications; and as Worth's operations were limited to the 
works more immediately connected with the mill, it became his 
object to isolate the designated point of his attack as much aH 
possible from those about the summit ot Chapultepec. 

In order to accomplish this object, it became necessary to 
ma,ke a very judicious and skillful disposition of his troops, so 
as to avoid engaging the whole line at once, and enable him to 
direct the united energies of his whole force against El Molino 
del Key, and the works more immediately connected with it. 
Colonel Garland, with his brigade, was ordered to take a favor- 
able position on the right, which was at the same time support- 
ed and strengthened by two pieces from Captain Drum's field 
battery, which might render effective service, either against the 
enemy's position in front, or assist in battering the works about 
El Molino del Rey, as circumstances might require. The 
heavier battel ing guns, which were designed to play more par- 
ticularly upon the thick stone walls, were under the skillful and 
scientific direction of Captain linger, who placed them on a 
ridge or rising spot of ground some six hundred yards in front 
of the strong and almost impregnable position of the King's 
mill, with the object of l)reaking, if possible, the connecting 
link between it and the Castle. 

A body of troops, composed of detachments of picked men 
taken from all arms of the service, to the number of about six 
hundred, was organized and placed under the command of Tvlajor 
Wright, of the 8th Infimtry, and ordered to occupy a position on 
a small mound to the left of Captain Huger's battery, with di- 
rections, if found practicable, to force the centre of the works 



15S Scott's campaign 

iti front, and thereby capture the field battery of four guns that 
was planted there, and turn the pieces against the retreating foe. 
Clark's brigade, now under the command of Colonel Mcin- 
tosh, supported by Duncan's battery, was ordered to be posted 
lartlier up the ridge or mount, and parallel with the enemy's 
position on the right, with directions to suytaiu our left flank, if 
necessary, and also to support the assaulting columns, and 
otherwise annoy the enemy to the extent that their position and 
advantages of ground might enable them. It was thought pro- 
l)cr that Cadwalader's brigade should be retained as a reserve, 
occupying a iavorabie position on the hill, and at a medium 
distance between the position of Duncan's battery and Colonel 
Mcintosh's brigade, so that it could conveniently support cither 
in case it became necessary. The cavalry force under Major 
Sumner was ordered to hold a position far on the extreme left 
of our lines, there to await the issue of circumstances, which 
might, in the judgment of their leader, render their service 
effective, either in stistaining t!ie infantry, attacking the toe, or 
pursuing the routed and scattered I'orces. 

The foregoing arrangements being agreed upon as the most 
proper and judicious disposition of the attacking forces, they 
were then ordered to take up their various designated positions 
under cover of the darkness of" the night, and commence the 
attack at daylight the next morning, or as soon as the heavier 
pieces could be properly brought to bear. Accordingly, about 
3 o'clock on the morning of the ever memorable 8th of Sep- 
tember, Wo] th's whole command was put in motion, each col- 
umn taking the route leading most directly to its appointed posi- 
tion. This difficult and important movement M'as made vvith 
the most consummate skill and precision, so that when the 
morning dawned, and the gray mists were swept from the 
mountain tops, every corps was found in its proper place, and 
waiting with anxious expectation for the signal which bade 
them commence that bloody day's work. But their suspense 
was of short duration, for as soon as the first faint streaks of 
light revealed to view the enemy's works, Huger's guns let 
loose upon them in fire and smoke, which made their stubborn 
walls to tremble "from turret to foundation stone," announcing 
the fact to both armies in tones of thunder that active opera- 
tions had commenced. 

Those heavy battering pieces continued to play with much 
energy and spirit upon this particular point of the opposing 
lines, (El Molino del Rey,) until the effect of their incessant 
and well-directed fire was apparent to all. The guns were 
twenty-four-pounders, and wei-e well-manned by a competent 



IN MEXICO. 159 

and efficient artillery corps, under the direction of brave and 
experienced officers ; so that tlash after flash succeeded each 
other in such quick and spirited succession, that it gave the bat- 
tery the appearance of a volcano, belching tijrth voliniie after 
volume of smoke and flames to such a degree that the men and 
guns were frequently hid trom view by the sheets of fire and 
wreaths of vapory clouds that completely enveloped them. 
Every shot struck the designated point, and tokl with startling 
effect upon the strong detenses of the ibe, until that portion ot 
his line of works became evidently shaken, and h:s forces in 
some degree panic struck. 

Major Wright, who commanded the storming party, ol)serv- 
ing this fiivorable crises in the affiiirs of the day, and thinking 
that it afforded him an opportunity for a display of the efficient 
services of his corps, immediately put his columns in motion, 
and dashed forward to the assault. Notwithstanding the gall- 
ing fire of musketry and cannon l)alls which swept the field in 
every direction, yet their impetuous course was onward, and 
onward they went like the deadly blast of the whirlwind, in tlie 
face of the wasting storm of iron hail that rained among their 
ranks; nothing could withstand their resistless onset; they 
rushed up to the very mouths of the cannon, driving the panic 
stricken columns of artiUary and infantry before them. The 
gunners were driven from their pieces at the point of the bay- 
onet, while their field battery was captured, and the guns 
wheeled round and opened with deadly effect upon the retreat- 
ing forces, scattering death aiid de;>truction among the broken 
ranks and mingled masses of those who had stood by and mann- 
ed them but a moment ])eforc. 

The enemy soon discovering what a mere handful of men 
had routed them and taken their battery, instantly rallied their 
broken battalions and made a desperate effort to regain it, and 
aided by large bodies of infantry from the house tops and be- 
hind walls, they opened a most galling and destructive fire of 
musketry from their whole lino, upon the assaulting party, 
which immediately struck down eleven officers out of the four- 
teen which composed the command, together with a like pro- 
portion of non-commissioned oflicers and privates ; among the 
number was Major Wright, the commander, and Captain Ma- 
son and Lieutenant Foster of the Engineers, all of whom were 
severely wounded. This was Indeed a bloody day to the as- 
saulting party, and they would have sutiered still more sevei'ely 
had not the light battalion under Captain Smilh, and the right 
vv ing of Cadwalader's brigade, been sent forward to sup[)ort 
thorn. For it is evident li-om the manner in which Major 



160 scott's campaign 

Wright's party stood the wasting fire of the enemy, and that, 
too, from more than four times their own number, that they had 
determined to hold the position they had gained, and fight for it 
to the last, though it might cost them the last man they had. 
But succor arrived in time to save a fragment of this forlorn 
hope, and enable them to drive the enemy still further back, 
and possess themselves permanently of the point they had 
gained. But during this time, the troops destined to act upon 
other portions of the work were by no means idle. Garland's 
brigade, supported by Captain Drum's battery, was doing most 
effectual service on the left of the enemy's lines, where was 
posted some of their best troops and strongest defenses, and 
after an obstinate and bloody conflict, which was well sustained 
on both sides, and ended in crossing bayonets and some hand- 
to-hand fighting, the enemy were again driven from their appa- 
rently impregnable position, with the advantage of being situ- 
ated almost under the very guns of the Castle of Chapultepec. 
The Mexicans defended their works with great obstinacy, 
and i'bught with a degree of courage and eneigy rather unusual, 
as our loss in killed and wounded will show. But they were 
eventually compelled to give way before the superior skill and 
courage of the Anglo-Saxon warrior, totally unable to with- 
stand the fierce attack and impetuous charge of those who 
knew nothing but to conquer, ajid whose watchword was vic- 
tory or death. Those who are disposed to think that Mexican 
soldiers cannot, or will not, fight, need only to have been at 
Molino del Key on that bright and beautiful morning of the 8th 
of September, 1847, to have changed their opinions in some 
particulars at least. It is true they cannot generally stand a 
charge, but here they stood and fought like Spartans till the 
bayonets of the opposing columns were crossed, and muskets 
clubbed, and guns wrenched from each other's hands; and even 
then they yielded with much reluctance. The artillery section 
of Captain Drum, and the heavy battering pieces of Captain 
Huger, immediately advanced and took possession of the ene- 
my's deserted position, and opened a most destructive fire, both 
from their own batteries and the captured pieces, upon the dis- 
organized and broken columns of the retreating foe, and which 
was kept up with great spirit and eiiect, until the scattered 
forces were beyond their reach. The conflict aliout the guns 
was obstinate and sanguinary in the extreme; the field tor seme 
distance roimd being literally covered with the killed and 
wounded, while the earth was slippery with human gore. But 
while the centre and right were victorious, carrying every thing 
before them, the left was by no means acting the part of idle 



IN MEXICO. 161 

spectators ; it was hero the brave Mcintosh fought at the head 
of his gallant brigade, which he had led oft' most beautifully in 
the assault on the oncmy's extreme right. The oblique move- 
ment of this brigade led it across the line in front of Duncan's 
battery, and which completely masked it for a moment, and 
caused it to discontinue its tire ; but still the advancing columns 
moved on steadily and firmly to the assault of the strong works 
of Casa Mata, which heietoforc had been supposed to be only 
an ordinary field work or entrenchment, but on reaching it, if 
proved to be a strong stone citadel, surrounded with Ijasfioned 
entrenchments and im[)assable ditches ; an old Spanish work 
recently repaired. As soon as the assaulting forces had arrived 
within easy musket range, the enemy opened a most deadly and 
destructive fire upon them, v.'hich was continued until the ad- 
vancing columns reached the ditch in front of the walls; and 
though the wasting lire ot the enemy swept the lines irom right 
to left, cutting down scores at every discharge, yet they faltered 
not for a moment, but promptly closing up the gaps in their 
iiist thinning ranks, they continued to move steadily and rapidly 
forward, though every step brought them nearer, and in more 
deadly and direct range of the musketry which was making 
such sad havoc among them. By the time they reached the 
walls, almost one half of the entire command had fallen, cither 
killed or v.'ounded, including the three senior offtcers, Colonel 
Mcintosh, Colonel Scott, and Mtijor Waite, the second of 
wliom was killed upon the spot, and the other two desperately 
wounded. And still the wasting effects of the galling and de- 
structive fire from the Citadel and surrounding works continued 
with such unabated tury that every inch of ground seemed to 
3)e swept by a periect hail-storm of bullets, and the on!}' wonder 
seemed to be that a single man escaped. This murderous fire, 
which no human force could withstand, threw om- troops into a 
momentary disorder; and at this terrible crisis, big with the 
events of victory cr defeat, the command was seen to bend 
V)ackwards and waver fijr a moment, and finally fell back upon 
Duncan's battery, where it instantly rallied in gallant style, and 
gatharing up its energies only to make a more deadly and des- 
perate onset when the charge should again be sounded. As 
the shattered remnant of this 1)rigade, almost without officers, 
and fearfully reduced in rank and file, was moving on a second 
time to the assault, it was discovered that our left flank was 
threatened by a large cavalry and infantry force which was seen 
to be rapidly approaching our lines in that direction. Quick as 
thought, Duncan's battery was in motion, and supported by 
Andrew's voltigeurs, and Cadwalader's brigade, was soon 



162 SCOTt's CAMPA10!>' 

thundering across the field in the direction of the threatened 
point, in order, to check, if [lossible, the movement against our 
flank, and at the same time prevent the advancing troops from 
reinforcing the enemy's right, which it was evidently their in- 
tention to do, after they had succeeded in turning our left. The 
enemy's cavalry came dashing up at a rapid rate and in fine 
style, with glittering helmets and Hashing blades, to within 
direct canir^ter range of Duncan's guns, when a sudden thunder 
clap sliook the field, and a sheet of fire ii'om his whole battery 
revealed to them the danger of their position, and after empty- 
ing about fifty saddles, and'scattering the field with their dead 
and wounded, sent them scampering away much faster than 
they came. The spectacle which they presented when advanc- 
ing at an easy canter, was grand and im[)osing; their lines 
were well dressed upon their guides, while the glittering tinsel 
ol their dashy and gaudy unilbrms, and their spirited and gaily 
caparisoned chargers all curveting and champing the bit, and 
moving with such easy and uniform pace, gave them at once a 
]>roud and martial bearing which could not but strike the eye 
of every beholder. 

This movement, terminating successfully, put matters to 
rights on the left, and made every thing sure in that quarter; 
during which time Major tSunnier's command, by a change of 
direction, had moved towards the front, the whole manoeuvre 
being gone through with almost instantly, and in a gallant and 
skillful manner, although at the same time they were within 
direct range otj and under a hot and galling fire from, the strong 
works of Caaa Mata. This splendid and well-timed move- 
ment enabled his command to cross the ravine which lay con- 
sideraijly on the lefl; of Duncan's battery, which posiiion it 
gallantly maintained throughout the fight, rendering most valu- 
able and etfective service until the end o* the action. The 
very moment the routed cavalry force Avas beyond the reach of 
Duncan's guns, our infantry retired ti-om before the thick stone 
walls of Casa Mata, in order to give him a chance to play upon 
them with his artillery, \\'hich opportunity he immediately im- 
proved, and opened with much spirit and effect, which he kept 
up until he had completely driven the enemy from his strong- 
holds, and made himself master of his works and artillery, 
turning the captiu-ed pieces against the mingled and retreating- 
masses, and continu'ng to play upon them with most appalling 
effect until they had fled beyond his reach. 

The enemy was now driven in wild dismay and great con- 
fusion from every point of his strong and well-defended lines, 
leaving all his works and artillery in full and complete ppsses- 



IN MEXICO. 168 

sion of the Amsrican Ibrces, which they iiiiniediately entered 
and occupied, at the same time planting their different standards 
upon the deserted walls, and flinging their starry tblds to the 
breeze, rent the air with long and loud shouts of Aictory. 

Thus ended the brief but terrible and sanguinary battle of 
Molino del Rev, which cost the American army more dearly 
than any other single battle on that line ; the number of killed 
and wounded, considering the length of time the two tbrces 
were engaged, was positively astounding, ft was remarked 
by a distinguished general officer, on hearing the results of the 
battle, ilial many more such victories icoidd ruin our army. 
Both our officers and men certainly deserve the highest praise 
and commendation for their noble and gallant conduct upon the 
field, fighting as they did against such fearful odds who possessed 
the advantages of chosen positions behind thick stone walls, 
which completely protected them from the fire of our small 
arms, while at the same time they were enabled to play upon 
our advancing lines with the most fatal precision and deadly 
effect. By skillful management on the part of the enemy in 
masking their batteries, and otherwise concealing the strength 
of their works, they were enabled in some degree to disappoint 
the calculations of the reconnoitering party in leading them to 
suppose that the works were not as strong, or as well defended, 
as they really were. But this deception eventually availed 
them but very little, after the conflict liad commenced, and our 
lines became engaged; for had their position been even more 
formidable than it was, it must eventually have fallen as it did, 
before the intrepid courage and unyielding perseverance of our 
impetuous troops, who knew not how to yield, and would rather 
die than retreat. Worth went upon the field that morning with 
little more than 3000 men, all flushed with recent victory, and 
ready with bold hearts and strong arms for the bold and daring 
work that lay before them; near 800 of whom v.'as struck down 
upon the field, either killed or wounded, being about one-fourth 
of his whole effective force, among whom were many able and 
distinguished officers, who were the brightest ornaments of the 
service. The action commenced at sun rise and lasted two 
hours, during which time almost every arm of the service on 
both sides was incessantly engaged, with scarcely a moment's 
intermission. From the moment that the first flash of Huger's 
signal guns was seen through the gray mist of the morning, till 
the last retreating foe that fled from Casa Mata was beyond the 
reach of Duncan's battery, not a man of the whole command 
was idle; all fighting desperately, as if victory or death was the 
inevitable result. 



1(J4 scott's cam.paiui« 

According to the directions of General Scott, that portion of 
the enemy's works known as the Casa Mata was immediately 
bloN^n up, together with the captured ammunition which could 
not be made us:^ful; and the cannon moulds and machinery 
found at El Molino del Rey were also destroyed in obedience to 
the same order, after which the whole command returned to 
their former quarters at Tacubaya; thus acting out to the very 
letter the strict and reiterated orders of the Commander-in- 
Chief. 

The nuniber of prisoners taken in the fight is set down at 
800, including fifty-two commissioned officers. The total loss 
of the enemy in killed, wounded, and prisoners, was ascertained 
to be about 3,000, being equal to the whole number of Ameri- 
cans engaged in the action. It was known from the repoits of 
prisoners taken on the field, and other corroborating evidence 
liom relialjle sources, that the number of the enemy's forces 
which were engaged with Worth's command that day, exceed- 
ed 14,000 eflective men, all under the immediate command 
of General Santa Anna in person. Estimating the relative 
strength of the two antagonist forces, no one will wonder at 
our extraordinary loss, especially when he comes to consider 
that 3,000 men, in an open field, fought and conquered 14,000 
in chosen positions and behind the strongest kind of fortifica- 
tions. 

General Worth, in his official report, says : — "My command, 
reinforced as before stated, only reached three thousand one 
hundred men of all arms. The contest continued for two hours, 
and its severity is painfully attested by our heavy loss of offi- 
cers, non-commissioned officers and privates, including in the 
first two classes some of the brightest ornaments of the service. 
It will be seen that subordinate commanders speak in the warm- 
est terms of the conduct of their officers and men, to which I 
beg leave to add my cordial testimony. There could be no 
higher exhibition of courage, constancy, and devotion to duty 
and to country. These operations occurring under the obser- 
vation of the General-in-Chief, gives assurance that justice 
will be done to the noble officers and soldiers whose valor 
achieved this glorious, but dear-bought victory. Commending 
the gallant dead, the wounded, and the few unscathed, to the 
respectful memory of their countrymen, and the rewards due to 
valor and conduct, I present the names of those especially no- 
ticed by subordinate commanders, uniting in all they have said, 
and extending the same testimony to those not named." 

This battle was fought in full view of the city, the Castle of 
Chapultepec, Tacubaya, and the surrounding towns and villages, 



IN MEXICO. 165 

and was, no doubt, regarded by the crowding and anxious 
thousands of the enemy that witnessed the thrilling scene tVom 
the neighboring heights, as but a fearful earnest of what was 
destined to betall all their other works in turn, and which would 
carry the victorious army of the North to the very gates of the 
city- They now deemed it almost certain that the, heretofore, 
unpolluted streets of the Capital must shortly be trod by the rest- 
less and enterprising Anglo-Saxon, and that the rich drapery of 
their beautiful tri-colorcd flag, which is at once the pride and 
glory of their repuijlic, must soon be furled in ignominious sub- 
mission, to give place to the hated, but victorious stars and 
stripes. These, I say, might have been the fears and forebod- 
ings of those who witnessed the i'all of Molino del Rey. 

On reducing the works of the King's mill, they wore found !o 
contain quite an extensive foundry, with all the machinery and 
apparatus necessary for moulding cannon on quite a magnifi- 
cent scale, and was in active and successful operation up to the 
time of its reduction. Large numbers of bells had been 
brought from the churches in the city for the purpose of supply- 
ing material for moulding, and large numbers of cannon were 
being finished and mounted with all possible despatch. Santa 
Anna had been so unfortunate as to loose a large portion of his 
artillery in the recent battles, and he was bending all his ener- 
gies towards supplying the deficiency by encouraging domestic 
manufacture. This fact alone will serve to show the great ex- 
tremity to which the Mexican President was driven, for all 
church property is considered sacred, and was never bef^Mc 
known to be appropriated to civil purposes, not even in cases of 
the most extreme necessity. A move was once made by one of" 
the Presidents of Mexico to have a portion of the church pro- 
pfCrty appropriated towards the liquidation of the public debt, 
Init it was so strongly opposed by the priests and their favor- 
ites, that it was finally aljandoned. 



CHAPTER XIV. 

The works of Molino del Rey having been reduced and de- 
stroyed, the next step in the regular course of things was to 
carry the castle of Chapultepec, which was now the only for- 
midable position that lay between our army and iho gates of 
tlie city. This work is situated upon the summit of an isolated 
hill or mound of some considerable elevation, and was consi- 
dered one of the strongest and best fortified positions about the 



166 SCOTT S CAMFAIGIS" 

city, and contained some of their heaviest pieces of artillery, 
manned by their most experienced and skillful Engineers. 
This is supposed to be the former site of Montezuma's palace, 
and is a most beautiful and commanding situation, completely 
overlooking the whole city, which seems to rest in quiet repose 
and princely grandeur, upon the green bosom of the wide and 
placid valley beneath. It also contains a military college, 
where boys and young men are trained and educated for the 
army; and during the investment of their Alma Mater on the 
12th and 13th by the American army, although mere boys, 
yet they laid aside their books and studies, and stood by and 
manned the guns, lighting bravely to the last like veteran he- 
roes, showing that they knew a little about the practice as well 
as the theory of war. 

This Castle lay within easy cannon range of the village of 
'i'acubaya, which was then occupied as our general head 
(juarters, and until it was carried it was impossible for our ai-my 
to approach the city towards its western gates, without taking 
a very long and circuitous route, and which might eventually 
have proved rather a hazardous and uncertain experiment. 
Accordingly, immediate preparations were entered into for the 
battering and bombardment, and final reduction of the Castle, 
with all its works and armaments, which preparations were 
completed by the evening of the 11th, and on the morning of 
the 12th the cannonade and bombardment were opened by 
Captain Huger, with much spirit and effect. During the night 
of the 11th, several heavy battel ies wer-c erected within direct 
range of the enemy's main works. Battery No. 1 Avas esta- 
blished on the right of oiu- lines, which was commanded by 
Captain Drum, of the fourth artillery ; and also Battery No. 2, 
under the direction of Lieutenant Hagner, of the ordnance de- 
partment, both of which were supported by Quitman's division. 
This brave and veteran commander had been deprived, by cir- 
cumstances beyond his control, oi'the pleasure of participating 
in the dangers and glories of the battles of Cerro Gordo, Con- 
treras and Churubusco, but now fortune had assigned him "a 
place in the picture," and how he most gallantly made amends 
for lost time at Chapultepec and the Garita de Helen, will 
abundantly appear in the sequel. Batteries No. 8 and 4 were 
established on the left of our lines, and was supported by Pil- 
low's division ; the fjrmer of which was commanded by Captain 
Brooks and Lieutenant Anderson, oi'the 2d artillery, while the 
latter was under the orders of Lieutenant Stone, of the ord- 
nance department: the position of these batteries was marked 
out by Captain linger, and Captain TiCe of the Engineers, and 



1-N MEXICO. 167 

coustrucled by Iheiu, being assisted by several officors of" the 
Engineer and Artillery corps. It was anticipated, that in order 
to eflect a serious and manifest impression upon the enemy's 
works, it might Ijc touud necessary to continue the play of our 
batteries throughout the second day; and as the captures inci- 
dent upon our recent victories had greatly augmented our artil- 
lery and siege train, it was deemed prudent to cripple the works 
about the castle most eflectiially with shot and shells before at- 
tempting the assault. As has been before remarked, a can- 
nonade II nd bombardment from our whole line of batteiies, un- 
der the direction of Captain Huger, was opened earlv on the 
morning of the r2th, and continued without intermission through- 
out the day, and when night set in, and darkness shut out the 
enemy's lines from view, it was evident to all that the work of 
our batteries had not been in vain; hut a decided and favorable 
impression was manifest upon the immediate Castle and its out- 
works. Large bodies of Mexican infantry had been observed 
throughout the day, assembled without the walls, and on the 
side towards the city, in order (o escape the ciiects of our shot, 
and to be near at hand as soon as the cannonade should cease, 
in order to reinforce the garrison in case of an assault. This 
large body of troops held their jiosition beyond the reach of 
immediate danger during the Avh<jlc day, and were discovered 
to be occupying the same outside ground on the next nioriiing, 
thus reducing the efficient portion of the gai'rison to a number 
barely suiFicient to manage the guns. 

Generals Pillow and Quitman had held their respective divi- 
sions in position since the evening of the 11th, where they had 
then been placed to support the batteries, and at the same time 
holding themselves in readiness at a moment's Avarning to com- 
mence the assault, whenever such a movement should be or- 
dered by the General-in-Chief. To General Worth was as- 
signed the duty of holding his division as a reserve corps, in 
the direction of, and near to, El Molino del Rey, the theatre of 
his recent brilliant victory, with orders to support the movements 
of Pillow, if deemed necessary by the latter officer. Brigadier 
General P. F. Smith, with his brigade of Twiggs' division, had 
just arrived from the neighboring village of Piedad, and was 
ordered to take a convenient position for the purpose of support- 
ing General Quitman, should circumstances require it. In 
order to mislead the garrison stationed within the city of Mexico, 
and divert their attention as much as possible from the real in- 
tended point of attack. General Twiggs, with his division, rein- 
forced by Riley's brigade, and Taylor's and Steptoe's batteries, 
was ordered to hold a position, and by feints and mock attacks, 



168 SCOTt's CAMIWIGN 

threatpu the enemy before the south gates of the city, thereby 
holding at that point a large portion of the Mexican troops on 
the defensive; and while active operations were going on be- 
fore the walls of Chapultcpec, Twiggs' guns were still dis- 
tinctly heard in the distance holding the enemy at bay. Two 
hundred and tilly oilicers and men volunteered their services 
from Worth's division, and otlered to act as a storming party, 
which was considered, under the circumstances, little better 
than a forlorn hope. The distinguished hont)r of the command 
of this party was conferred on Captain IM'Kenzie, of the 2d 
artillery, and subsequent events proved that it could not have 
been intrusted to a braver or more skililid otFicer. 'I'wiggs' 
division, not wishing to be outdone in deeds of noble and self- 
sacriticing gallantry, oflered a similar party of the same num- 
ber to be placed at the disposal of General Quitman, and com- 
manded by Captain Casey. A large ()ortion ot both those par- 
ties were composed of men ot tried and known courage, whose 
noljle daring and gallant behavior had been manitested on more 
than one l)loody and well-fought field. Each of these little 
columns was turnished with scaling ladders, which they carried 
in their hands during the advance, and by the skilitld use and 
assistance of which, they might be enabled, almost instantly, 
to leap the walls in a body and pass into the very heart of the 
enemy's works. The signal which the General-in-Chief had 
appointed tor the general attack and final assault, was the mo« 
mentary cessation of the firing on the part of all our l)atteries, 
which signal was understood and acted upon at the same instant 
by every division, brigade, and regiment, which was then in 
position in the valley below, and tiicing the different sides of 
the hill. It was now thought evident, from the numl)er and 
weight of the shot and sh 'lis that had been thrown, and from 
the general appearance of the enemy's works, that sufficient 
breaches had been effected to justify our troops in attempting to 
finish the conflict by assault. Consecjuently, about 8 o'clock 
on the morning of the 13th, General Scott sent one of his stafl" 
with instructions to apprise Generals Pillow and Quitman tliat 
the preconcerted sional would be given in a very few moments 
from that time. Tiie Hues were instantly placed in order ot 
battle, and l)oth columns moved off in gallant style, advanc- 
ing with that alacrity and promptness which gave abundant 
evidence of ultimate success. The different batteries whose 
fire had been silenced as the signal of attack but a few mo- 
ments before, now availed themselves of the opportunity of 
throwing shot and shells over the heads of the advancing col- 
umns, and planting them with great precision and effect within 



IN MEXICO. 1G9 

Ihe works of the enemy, at the same time preventing large 
])odies oftroops without the works from reinforcing those within, 
which was frequently atfcmptetl by those wlio had passed to 
the outside of the walls of the castle in order to escape the 
effects of our artillery. The direction marked out for (General 
Pillow's division, led him to approach the summit on the west 
side of the hill, in doing which ho had to pas;^ through a beau- 
tiful and open grove, and behind every bush and rock of which 
the enemy had concealed his sharp shooters, with a view to 
harrass and impede our a[)proach as much as possible, and from 
wliich the advancing lines suftered considerably. It was here, 
just as the division was emerging from the grove into fair and 
open ground, and just at (he foot of a steep and rocky ascent, 
that General Pillow was struck down by a grape shot, inflicting 
a very severe and painful wound in his leg. He was then, at 
his own request, carried in a blanicet at the head of his division 
up the hill, and was thereby enabled to reach the work in time 
to witness the surrender, (iencral Pillow being wounded, and 
Brigadier General Pierce, the next in command, being sick, the 
command devolved on Brigadier General Cadwaladcr, who 
gallantly led the division on to the assault. .Tiist before Pillow 
was wounded, he had called upon General Worth for a rein- 
forcement, who promptly responded to the call, and Ibrthwith 
sent him Clark's brigade, which reached him just before he 
fell, and was advancing in line with his columns. A steep and 
broken ascent of some distance in extent lay directly in the path 
of this division, and which it was compelled to pass before 
reaching the outer walls of the Castle upon the siunmit; but 
neither rocks nor chasms, nor showers of whistling bullets 
could for a moment impede the progress of our brave and im- 
petuous troops. From the rough and uneven nature of the 
ground, and the .steepness of the ascent, the advance of our 
lines was necessarily more slow than could have been Avished; 
but though impeded ^br a moment, yet their steady and unfalter. 
ing course was onward and upv.'ard, leaping from rock to rock, 
they continued to rush on with impetuous ardor and increased 
animation, in the very face of a perfect tempest of grape, can- 
ister and musket balls, which swept the ranks at every step. 

The Mexicans sav/ that a crisis had arrived, and they were 
letting loose their pent up fires, and hurling their hot bolts with 
a herculean effort, which told the important results that were 
trembling in the balance. The most powerful and opulent city 
upon the Western Continent was that day put upon the field to 
be battled for; the guardian angel of Mexico was hovering in 
the smoke of battle, and tlvc destinies of an ancient and mighty 
8 



170 «cott's campaign 

republic were now staked upon the issue of a moment. But 
the men who fought that day were brave ; might I not say, the 
bravest of the bi'ave ! and were led on by officers who never 
knew the sense of fear, and whose confidence was unbounded 
in the firmness and integrity of every man they commanded. 
1 verily believe that if only ten men had readied the walls 
alive, that they would have scaled the ramparts and died fight- 
ing within the works. 

Midwa} between this rocky declivity and the Castle was 
erected a strong redoubt, which yielded, even before it was 
reached, to superior courage and resistless valor; and the 
Anglo-Saxon shout of defiance that followed its capture, an- 
nounced to those wiihin the Castle, in language not to be mis- 
understood, the fate that awaited and soon must overtake it. 
The enemy were rapidly and steadily driven from covert to 
covert, and shot down and bayonetti^d at every point; and the 
retreat was &o hasty and preci[)itate from the outer v/orks that 
not a moment was left to fire a single mine, without the proba- 
bility of destroying both friends and foes in one indiscriminate 
mass. These mines had been prepared with great labor and 
care, and filled v/ith barrels of powder, and trains laid so that 
they could be ignited in an instant, and if the stratagem had 
proved successful, it must have resulted in the total destruction 
of a large portion of the advancing forces. But the onset was 
so fierce, and the advance so rapid and overpowering, that the 
frightened and panic-struck soldiery scampered off in such a 
hurry, and were so extremely anxious to save their bacon, that 
they either forgot their duty, or vv'ere so hotly pressed that they 
had not time to perform it. 

During all this time the assaulting columns were rushing on 
in perfect safety, treading with impunity over those slumbering 
volcanoes of death, which the enemy had fondly hoped would 
be the grave of the shattered fragments of our little arm) . 
There were some few of the Mexican soldiers more hardy and 
fearless tlian the rest, who, at a distance, attempted to apply the 
matches to the long trains, and thus accomplish the explosion, 
but they were shot doAvn by our troops as fast as they attempted 
it, until the project was finally given up as hopeless. At 
length, after incredible labor and fatigue, and quite a heavy 
loss from the long exposure to a most galling and well-directed 
fire, which blazed incessantly forth fi-om the enemy's whole 
line of works, our weary and exhausted troops succeeded in 
reaching the ditch which surrounds the main wall of the forti- 
fication, where many brave men fell in the attempt to scale. 

Thero Avas quite a spirited contest among tho advancing 



IN .UEXICU. 171 

hosts, each one conLcnding with the utlicr tor t!io iJislinguished 
lionor ol" being first over the walls and within the enemy's 
works ; but most of those bravo and daring spirits who first 
mounted the walls v/erc instantly shot down, cither killed or 
\vounded. The storming parties were there to a. man, and in 
I'ront of the foremost, while with long and loud shouts their lad- 
ders were planted quick as tliought — a lodgment was ofTectcd — 
tiie walls were covered in an instant — when a perFect cataract 
of" men and arms were flowing down their sisles in an angry and 
resistless tide, sweeping in its furious current the disorganized 
and scattered ranks of the bewildered and distracted foe. 
Those who madly attempted any further resistance after the 
works were entered, either fell, or were compelled to flee before 
our victorious bayonets. The furious and impetuous onset of 
(lur troops instantly overcame, and levelled all opposition, while 
several stands of our regimental colors were unfurled and flung 
to the breeze from the upper walls of the Citadel, amid the 
enthusiastic cheering? of the whole army, which made t!ie very 
city tremble, and se!;t coiisternation and dismay through all its 
crowded stz-eets. But vv'e must not by any means infer that 
Pillow's command did all the hot work of that bloody day; it 
is true that it acted the part assigned it, but at the same time wc 
must not forget that the distinguished Mississippian was doing 
his work in the same gallant and efficient style on tlie south 
east side of the hill. Quitman's division, supported by Gen- 
erals Shields and Smith, with their respective brigades, was 
by no means tardy or backward in the performance of the work 
assigned it. 

General Quitman, with his command, moved on in gallant 
style tov/ards the south east side of the Castle, which he did 
while laboring under great disadvantages, his course leading 
ove.r a causeway obstructed Ijy ditches and batteries, and de- 
fended by a large body of troops which were stationed outside 
of the walls, and on the east of the main vv'orks on the sunimit. 
The approach was rendered extremely arduous, difficult, and 
dangerous, by the intervention of almost every obstacle which 
art or nature could throw in the way, while almost every ad- 
vantage seemed to be on the side of the enemy. But all those 
prominent and formidable difficulties Vv-ere met and overcome 
l)y the firmness and courage of the assaulting forces, without 
any shelter to protect them from the direct fire of the enemy in 
front, and in a space so circumscribed as to render it utterly 
impossible to mana-uvreto advantage. 

Smith, with his brigade, had been ordered to make a push 
towards the right, for the purpose of pre:^enting a firm and un- 



172 scott's campaign* 

broken front to tlio enemy's line of defence on the outside of the 
works, with directions at the same time to move against and 
turn, if possilile, two intervening l)attei1es, which lay near the 
fool of the hill of Chapultepec. This bold and daring move- 
ment was also intended finally to support atid protect two storm- 
ing parties attached to Quitman's command, which were then 
upon tlie causeway, and ready for the general assault. The 
first of these parties being the one which was furnished by 
Twiggs' division, was originally under the command of Captain 
Casey, 2d infantry, who fell severely wounded early in the 
action. The command then devolved on Captain Paul, 7th 
infantry, who gallantly led on his eager and impatient troops in 
the face of every danger until the walls were passed and the 
enemy driven from every point. Major Twiggs, of the Marine 
Corps, commanded the second storming party until ho fell mor-' 
tally wounded. He was then succeeded in connnand by Cap- 
tain IMiller, of the 2d Pennsylvania volunteers, who nobly acted 
the counterpart of his fallen predecessor. The former of these 
assaulting detachments, under Captain Paul, assisted by Cap- 
tain Roberts and Lieutenant Stewart, had already succeeded in 
turning two batteries which lay immediately in their route, 
capturing several guns and taking a considerable number of 
prisoners, besides driving back the supporting columns of in- 
fantry who were posted l)ehind them. 

The New York and South Carolina volunteers, composing 
>Shields' brigade, together with the 2d Pennsylvania regiment, 
which had just at that moment come up in gallant style en the 
left of Quitman's line, had succeeded, after much labor and dif- 
ficulty, in crossing the meadow or low marshy ground in front, 
under a sweeping fire from the lines of defence, and had en- 
tered the enclosure within the outer walls of the castle just in 
time to join and participate in the final assault of Pillow from 
the western side of the work. Inspired liy the presence and 
example of the gallant and distinguished General who led them 
to victory on the bloody field of Churubusco, the Palmetto and 
New York regiments rushed forward, bearing down and over- 
coming every obstacle that might impede their onward course, 
until the v.'all was reached and a lodgment effected. 

This movement on the part of Shields' brigade was well and 
promptly supported by Colonel Geary with the 2d Pennsylvania 
regiment, who was so fortunate as to enter the Mork nearly at 
the same moment with Shields, and inider a most spirited and 
destructive fire from the enemy's outposts. These dangerous 
and daring movements were not accomplished without consider- 
able loss on our part, but still it was not a mad and useless sa- 



rx MEXICO. 173 

crifice of life, for it. was absolutely necessary that our lines 
should have been exposed in the manner they were, in order to 
insure a successful assault upon t.jie enemy's strongholds on 
ihatside of the hill. In leading and directing the advance of 
his brigade, General SJiields received a severe and painful 
wound in the arm, and though faint and feeljle from loss of 
blood, yet he could not be induced to quit his command, or 
leave the field even for a moment, but stanching the blood with 
a handkerchief, he still presses torward at the head of his 
l)rigade, while his men were falling thick around him. Capt. 
Van O'Linda, of the New York regiment, a brave and accom- 
plished officer, was struck dov>'n, mortally wounded, at the head 
of his command, while advancing near the walls in the face of 
the enemy's hottest fire; also Lieutenant Colonel Baxter, of 
the same regiment, a valuable and highly esteemed officer, was 
killed while gallantly leading on his men, and but a moment 
Ijefore the works were entered. Major Gladden, at the head of 
his gallant Palmettoes, still tov/erediuiscathed before his impetu- 
ous command ; his regiment was among the first to reach the 
wall, and soon he succeeded in ^effecting a breach, through 
which they entered, and were soon mingling Avith the victorious 
columns in the heart of the enemy's works. The New York 
and Pennsylvania regiments passed the outer wall over an 
abandoned battery on their left, and dashing up the hill, was 
among the first in the final assault. The marine corps had, in 
oljedience to orders, taken an advantageous position, by w^hich 
they were enabled to render the most prompt and efficient sup- 
port to the storming parties attached to Quitman's command. 
Matters having thus reached a crisis which was deemed favor- 
able for the luiifedand spirited advance of the whole command, 
General Quitman ordered his forces to com.mence the final 
assault from all points of his lines at the same instant. 

The storming parties commenced the dangerous task, and 
moved off in gallant style, and in double quick time, armed 
with scaling ladders, pick-axes, and crow bars, and led by offi- 
cers of steady nerves and tried courage, who had volunteered 
their services for this daring and desperate adventure, for they 
were all looked upon as a forlorn hope who had consented to 
sacrifice their lives at the shrine of their country's honor, and 
from which dangerous service 1/ut few would escape to tell the 
tale of their hazardous enterprize. The very earth shook be- 
neath the thundering tread of the assaulting columns, as with 
the wild fiiry of the whirlwind's blast they swept across the 
plain and struggled side Ijy side up the steep ascent. The 
Mexicans stood bv their guns and fought from behind the walh; 



174 scott's campaign 

with a degree of firmness and courage which excited the admi- 
ration of all; for a few mnments the contest about the battericti 
was fierce and desperate beyond description; swords and bay- 
onets were crossed, and muskets clubbed, by those v/ho fouglit 
over heaps of the dead and wounded, while their laces were 
blackened and begrimed with powder, and their uniforms spat- 
lered Vv'ith blood. The summit of the hill, like Sinai cf old, 
was completely wrapped in clouds of fire and smoke, and as 
our troops were advancing on all sides, (hey appeared to the 
beholder like an army of madmen rushing into the heaving 
crater of some blazing volcano. 

But the final contest was short; the Mexicans fought well, 
as our loss will fully demonstr;ite : but they were fighting an in- 
vincible foe, and v.'cre theretbre finally compelled to give way 
before superior skill and courage; for what could withstand the 
furious charge of seven thousand bayonets wielded by Anglo- 
Saxon hands, and sustained by a species of daring, reckless 
bravery which knows nothing in battle but victory or death? 
The enemy now broke and fled from every point, leaving theii- 
works completely in our possession, while the ascent and en- 
trance on Quitman's side of the castle was opened to the unin- 
terrupted advance and easy conquest of cur troops. About 600 
prisoners were taken at this point, among Avhom were 100 
officers, including one General and ten Colonels, besides 1000 
muskets and seven pieces of heavy artillery. But the rejoic- 
ings of victo!'y were shadowed in gloom, v.iiile the whole army 
mourned the loss of the gallant dead; among whom was that 
promising young officer. Lieutenant J. Willis Canty, of the 
Palmetto regiment, than whom a braver man or a higher toned 
gentleman never went tori h in the service of his country; he 
fell early in the action, and in the morning of life ; he Vv^as one 
of those brave and patriotic spirits who left the endearments of 
home, and the ties of kindred, to battle for the hosior of his 
country's flag upon a foreign soil; but he sleeps not alone, six 
hundred of his own regiment rest in peace beneath the same 
sod, while their country weeps lor the loss of her richest jewels. 

The following is an extract from the officinl report of Gen- 
eral Quitman: — "Simultaneously viith these movements on our 
right, the volunteer regiment, wi(h equal alacrity and intrepidi- 
ty, a,nimated by a generous emulation, commenced the ascent 
of the hill on the south side. Surmounting every obstacle, and 
fighting their way, they fell in and mingled with their brave 
brethren in arms who formed the advance of Major General 
Pillow's column. Side by side, amid the storm of" battle, the 
rival colors of the tv.'o commands struggled u|) tho steep aeeent, 



IN MEXICO. IT^S 

entered the fortress, and reached the buildings used as a Mili- 
tary College, which crowned its summit. Here was a short 
pause ; but soon the flag of Mexico was lowered, and the stars 
and stripes of our country floated from the heights of Chapulte- 
pec, high above the heads of the brave men v/ho had planted 
them there. The gallant New York regiment claims for their 
standard the honor of being flrst waved tlom the battlements of 
Chapultepec. The veteran Mexican General, Bravo, with a 
jiiimber of ofliccrs and men, v/ere taken prisoners in the castle. 
They tell into the hands of Lieutenant Charles Brower, of the 
New York regiment, who reported them to me. The loss of 
I he enemy was severe, especially on tiie eastern side adjoining 
the batteries taken. It should also be mentioned, that at the 
assault upon the works, Lieutenant i'rederick Steele, 2d In- 
lantry, with a portion of the storming party, advanced in front 
ol" the batteries to the h'ft, there scaled the outer wall through 
a breach near the top, made by a cannon shot, ascended the hi!! 
directly in front, and was among the first upon the batilements. 
The young and promising Lieutenant Levi Gantt, 7th fntantry, 
was of this party. He had actively participated in almost 
every battle since the opening of the war, but was destined 
here to find a soldier's grave. After giving the necessary di- 
rections for the safe keeping of the prisoners ttdcen by my com- 
mand, and ordering the several corps to form near the aquadurt 
I hastily ascended the hill for the purpose of reconnoitei-ing the 
positions of the enemy in advance towards the city. 1 there 
had the pleasure of meeting Major General Pillow, who, al- 
though seriously wounded, had been carried to the heights 1<> 
enjoy the triumph in which he and his l)rave troops had so 
largely shared." 

Lieutenant Mayne Rcid, (the poet v.'arrior,) of the New Yo:!; 
volunteers, particularly distinguished himself in leading his 
own company, together witli one of the Marines, quite in ad- 
vance of his own regiment, and reaching the walls side by 
side with the storming party, and was among the first within 
the works upon the summit. Captain Bernard, of the Volti- 
geurs, was the first to plant the standard of his regiment upon 
the walls of the castle, while Captain Biddle, of the same regi- 
ment was among the first in the assault. Lieutenant Armstead, 
O'h Lifantry, was the first to leiip the ditcli and plant a sealing 
ladder. Tliat, noI)le New Englander, Colonel Ransom, fell 
mortally wounded, while bravely leading on the gallant 9th, 
under a most wasting and destructive fire of crape, canister, and 
musketry. Colonel Trousdale, who commanded the 14th, was 
severely wounded twice, although hH could not l»e induced to 



176 scott's campaign 

leave his comtnand, but continued to lead on his noLle regi- 
ment until the heights were carried, and the enemy's works 
completely in our possession. 

The General-in-Chief had ordered General Worth to take a 
position at easy supporting distance from the base of Pillow's 
line, in order to be at hand should his services be needed. It 
appears that the latter officer soon called for Worth's whole 
division, which wasl)eing held in reserve close I)y, but Worth 
only sent liiai Clark's brigade. The propriety of this a|)!)arent 
disobedience of orders was soon manitlist, for on observing that 
the large body of troops on Quitman's right was receiving re- 
i-nforcements from the city, (^onenil Scott sent instructions 
forthwith to move against and turn, if possible, the enemy's 
M'orks on our opposite Hank, in order that he might reach a 
point from which to threaten or attack the enemy in the rear, 
after moving by the road along the northern b^'se of Chapulte- 
pec. This movement was promptly and skilfully pei formed by 
Worth, with the remaining portion of his command, consisting 
of Garland's brigade, Smith's light battalion, Duncan's field 
battery, and three squadrons of dragoons under Major Sumner. 
Moving onward beyond the grove on the west, Worth reached 
the road which was occupied by a flanking force under Colonel 
Trousdale, and being supported by a portion of Garland's 
brigade, he succeeded in driving the enemy before him, and 
capturing one oi his batferies. Continuing his omvard move- 
ment. Worth, with the remnant of his conunand, passed the 
main works of the Military College, or Castle of Chapultepec, 
opening a brisk fire at the same time against the right of the 
opposing columns which reached the main road on that side, 
about the time the general rout commenced, which resulted in 
the capture of all the strong and furmiilable works of the ene- 
my, including those in and about the Castle of Chapultepec. 

The seventh grand battle of the Valley of Mexico had now 
been fought, and the last fortification without the walls of the 
city had fallen before I lie prowess of the American arms. 



CHAPTER XV. 

This powerful and commanding fortress, with all its arma- 
ments and appurtenances, being now reduced, and in complete 
possession of the American fijrces, the next important move- 
ment of tjio day was to pursue the scattered fragments and 
broken eolumns of the j-outed garrison in their hasty and preci- 



IN MEXICO. 177 

pitate ilight tqivaicls the city. It was soon asreitaiiicd tlmt 
there were but two practicable routes over which troo])s could 
pass from Chapultepec towards the cit}'; the one on the right 
entering the Capital through the Garita de Belen, intersecting 
with the road from the south by the way of Piedad, and the 
other to the left, which unites with the western or San Cosme 
road without the walls of the city, and leading through the San 
Cosme gate ; both of these routes reach the city by elevated 
causeways. 

The road is a kind of double track, passing on each side of a 
strong and beautifuily built stone aqueduct, at some places of 
great height from the ground, and resting on large pillars or 
open arches, about ten feet apart, and which served as quite a 
protection to our troops in their advance upon the city, as they 
were so strong that even the heaviest artillery could have but 
very little effect upon them. Portions of these aqueducts near 
the gates of the city were also defended by fortifications and 
breast works, by which the enemy intended to dispute the pas- 
sage of the army of invasion, at the very thieshold of his own 
domicil; and though routed from every other point, he had thus 
determined to make a last desperate stand at the very portals of 
the holy altars of his long cherished religion, and beneath the 
scrutinizing gaze of the patron saint of Mexico. In pursuing 
the enemy from Chapultepec toward the gates of the city, 
Worth took the route leading by the way of the San Cosme 
aqueduct which lay on the left, while Quitman led his com- 
mand towards the Garita de Belen, or by the south western 
gate. Wishing to profit by the consternation and dismay which 
had spread through the enemy's ranks in consequence of their 
signal defc'it at Chapultepec, all the available artillery was or- 
dered to push rapidly forward and press hard upon the rear of 
the retreating forces, for the purpose of harrassing and annoy- 
ing them as much as possible. The respective brigades of 
Clark and C'adwallader were ordered to move to the support of 
Worth, followed by the necessary amount of artillery, for 
playing upon the stionghokls of the enemy about the gates. 
Pierce's brigade, with a number of siege pieces, was ordered 
to be held in readiness at easy supporting distance of Quitman's 
operations, which had alrOady commenced in the direction of 
the Garita de Belen. 

Colonel Morgan having been severely wounded at Cliuru- 
Ijusco, from which he had not yet recovered, his regiment, the 
15th Infantry, under the command of ColoHel Howard, was left 
to garrison the castle of Chapultepec, and to guard the prison- 
ers, arms, and munitions of war, which had been captured at 



i'78 scott's cAjn'Aio 

that place. At (he junction of the roads on the Sau Cosme route, 
were found some very strong fortifications, which might have 
presented a very forniidable obstacle to the advance of Worth, 
but they had been completely deserted, and not a gun was tbund 
upon the v/alls, which was considered a proof that they either 
expected our army to be cut to pieces before the walls of Cha- 
j)ultepec, or that Scott would concentrate his forces against the 
south gate, which they were led tully to antici|)ate from the 
active operations of Twiggs, whose oljject was to encourage 
the delusion and call oif the enemy's forces from the intended 
point of attack. The advance of the American army from 
Chapuitepec was so rapid and overwhelming that the enemy 
did not have time to change their guns, and bring them to bear 
upon the proper point, before it was too late, and the disgar- 
nished works had fallen into the hands of our victorious troops. 
Worth having passed rapidly on towards the suburbs about 
the San Cosme, was soon engaged in a street fight, which the 
enemy were ennl)ied to carry on from the windows, and from 
behind the parapet walls on the Hat roofs of the houses, and in 
fiict from every nook and corner which would afford them pro- 
tection from our sharp shooters. At this crisis of affairs, it 
was thought proper to push forward into active operation the 
mountain howitzer battery which was attached to Cadwalader's 
brigade, supported by small bodies of infantry designed to act 
as skirmishers and pioneers, some of whom were armed with 
pick-axes and crowbars, for the purpose of t()rcing doors and 
windows; and cutting through the walls, by which process the 
enemy's stronger works could be reached, without exposure to 
the destructive fire which raked the streets from every point in 
front. By these means a position was soon gained from which ' 
the enemy could be amioyed to advantage, depriving them at 
the same time of the partial protection which they had pre- 
viously enjoyed, while the incessant vollies from our slsarp 
shooters were cutting them down at every turn. With great 
labor and fatigue, and not a little hard lighting, V/orth had 
worked his way onward toward the main works of the city, and 
by night-fall had succeeded in capturing two batteries upon the 
suburbs, after driving the enemy from several of their strongest 
positions. Night coming on, all further active operations were 
suspended ; strong ana efficient guards were posted at every 
available point; and being directed by orders from general head 
(juarters. Worth placed his troops in j)osition and bivouacked 
fin' the night. There was now but one formid£!l)lc obstacle be- 
tween his present position and the Grand Plaza in front of (he 
National Palace, and that \\as a verv strong and well fortified 



IN MEXICO. 179 

liuilding calleti San Cosme custom house, and it was well 
known that even ihat must eventually yield before the deadly 
and direct (ire of our heavier guns. The Corr.mander-in-Chief 
had been convinced from .satistactory evidence, that the San 
Cosme gate, or the route pursued l)y Worth, was much the 
most easy of access in reaching the heart of the city, as its de- 
fences were not so strong, and its garrison less numerous and 
efficient, as the previous manceuvring of Twiggs had induced 
the enemj' to concentrate their heaviest pieces, and most active 
and efficient corps, at or near the south and south western 
gates. In consequence of which, orders had repeatedly been 
communicated to General Quitman not to expose his command 
unnecessarily in attempting to cut his way through the enemy's 
stronger positions at the Garita do Belen, but only hold his po- 
sition and mancEuvre and ihreeS^i the south western gate, and 
keep the enemy's attention, as much as possible, directed to 
that point, iu order to favor the main attack by Worth at tlie 
San Cosme. But being in hot pursuit, and the blood and met- 
tle of his tioops being up, he either could not, or did not, re- 
strain their ardor and impetuosity, and they continued to press 
forward with the rage and fierceness of hungry tigers, eager for 
the final result, against the powerful defenses of the Belen, 
within range of the guns of the citadel, which was perhaps the 
strongest fortified point within the city's gates. 

Quitman well knew that the most important crisis in the 
whole war had now arrived, and that every officer in the army 
now had his eye fixed upon the National Palace as the goal of 
his highest ambition, and he did not intend to be behind in the 
race, if hard fighting v/ould help him on. Ably supported by 
the brigades of Shields and Smith, he continued to push on his 
exhausted troops against every obstacle, exposed at every step 
to flank and direct tires from the enemy's lines; yet, with four 
times his number, in chosen positions, before him, he flil- 
tered not, but continued to lead on and encourage his men, 
as if confident of victory. He was aware that a route had 
been assigned him, and also one to Worth, and that they both 
led to the Kails of the Montezumas, and he intended to reach 
that point of universal ambition with or before his distinguished 
competitor, and the sequel will show that he \\'as not disap- 
pointed. 

Ho was enabled to turn one ot the enemy's strongest batte- 
ries and pass the outer gate before two o'clock in the afternoon ; 
but this was not cfiected without considerable loss, vvhich v,'as 
very much increased by the firm and steady spirit with which he 
gained and held that dangerous and much exposed poaitioit. 



180 scott's campaign 

The Garita de Belen was the sanguinary altar upon which the 
lives of many brave and valuable men and officers were oftered 
up. It was here that Captain Drum and Lieutenant Benjamin, 
of the 4th Artillery, tell mortally wounded, whose loss the 
whole army will long moinn and sensibly feel. Lieutenant 
Porter, of the same corps, was also slightly wounded. The 
Palmetto regiment was also called to mourn the loss of two of 
her most gallant and accomplished young officers, viz : Lieu- 
tenants J. B. Moragno and J. W, Steen, the former of which 
was shot dead upon the field and terribly mangled by a cannon 
ball ; the latter died soon after the .surrender of the city. 

Quitman was now within the city, and had succeeded in 
erecting several new defense;^ by which he was enabled more 
easily to hold his position, which he had won and maintained at 
such a fearful cost, and fi-onMvhich it was his design to open 
upon the enemy in his vicinity at daylight on the coming morn- 
ing. Night coming on, he called off his troops and ceased 
operations, while his whole command liivouacked almost im- 
mediately under the guns of the citadel, Vv'hich yet lay between 
him and the much desired goal of his ambition. 

At 4 o'clock on the morning of t!ie 14th of September, Gen- 
eral Scott was waited uj)on by a deputatioii from the ayuntami- 
ento. or city council, who officially informed him that the civil 
and military authorities, including the army and the federal 
government, had precipitately left the Capital some three hours 
Ijefure, leaving the city and its inhabitants to the mercy of the 
conquerors. This deputation also demanded of General Scott, 
in behalf of the church, the citizens generally, and the muni- 
cipal authorities, the terms of Capitulation which his Exccllenc}', 
the commander of the American army, might see proper to 
grant. But the General-in-Chiet promptly refused to sign any 
capitulation, or offer any terms to the delegated authorities of 
the city, alledging as a reason that he had considered the city 
in the possession of our army since the gates were passed by 
Worth and Quitman on the afternoon of the previous day. He 
also informed tliein that he intended to levy military contribu- 
tions upon the city, and that the army under his command 
should be trammelled by no restrictions, nor become subject to 
any terms not self-imposed, or which was not, in his opinion, 
required by the honor and dignity of the United States, and the 
generous and liberal spirit of the age. 

This interview with the delegated authorities of the city 
having closed, orders were immediately communicated to Gen- 
erals Worth and Quitman to advance slowly and with great 
caution towards the populous heart of this anciejit and mighty 



IN MEXICO. 181 

city, and to keep a sliarp look out at every point, and guard, if 
possible, against any treachery or snare of the enemy. After 
occupying the strongest and most important points which fell in 
his way, General Quitman reached the (J rand Plaza, or public 
square, immediately in front of the National Palace, where he 
organized and stationed efficient guards, and in another moment 
the stars and stripes of the United States were seen fluttering 
proudly and freely in the breeze of heaven, from the tall flag 
staff which surmounts the dome of the halls of the National 
Legislature. Tiiis must have been a |>roud moment to the brave 
old General and his subordinates, and in fact his whole com- 
mand down to the lowest private in the ranks, seemed to par- 
take of the general enthusiasm; to be the first at this goal of 
general ambition was by no means a matter of mere ordinary 
distinction. Around him arose in grandeur and magnificence, 
the spires and steeples and lofty domes of one of the wealthiest 
and most powerful cities on the American continent ; while 
liigh above the loftiest pinnacle floated our torn and tattered 
battle flag, being the first strange banner that had ever waved 
over that proud and haughty palace for more than three hun- 
dred years. Worth was halted by superior orders near the 
Alameda, about three squares from the palace, else he might 
have given Quitman a closer race for the honor he had so no- 
bly won. But the latter General, on this occasion in particu- 
lar, seems to deserve superior distinction, from the fact that ho 
had reached this point by a route which the General-in-Chief 
deemed extremely difficult and hazardous, so much so that he 
had originally intended, and extended orders to that effect, that 
Quitman should only manoeuvre and threaten the Garita de 
Belen, in order to favor the more easy and less dangerous route 
of Worth by the way of the San Cosme gate, which was then 
considered the only safe and practicable point at which the city 
could be entered without great sacrifice of life. Soon after our 
army had entered, and was in the act of occupying the city, a 
sharp and spirited fire was commenced upon our columns from 
different parts of the city, and kept up with some effect. It 
was soon discovered that this fire proceeded from the parapet 
walls on the fiat roofs of the houses and from the windows and 
corners of the street, and which was being carried on by some 
two or three thousand convicts which had been liberated from 
prison the night before by the flying government, and joined l)y 
a large number of disbanded soldiers who had thrown oft' their 
uniforms as a pretext for protection, and were fighting in the 
garb of citizens. This savage and unnatural warfare lasted 
more than twenty -four hours, in fipite of every effort that could 



182 Scott's CAMPAieif 

be made by our army and the civil authorities oi'the city, to put 
down the bloody and infuriated mob, and which was not finally 
<juelled until a number of our men and ofiicers had fallen victims 
to their fury. Their object probably was to gratify their na- 
tional hatred and keep up the confusion in the city, so as to 
enable them to plunder the wealthier inhabitants, and more 
especially the vacant houses of those who had deserted their 
homes on the approach of our army towards the city. If our 
army had been thus attacked and harrassed by the citizens 
generally, tlie afiair would probably have resulted quite differ- 
ently, for in such a case the fury and resentment of our army 
could not have been restrained, and tlie city would most evi- 
dently have suffered much more severely than it did; but it was 
soon ascertained that the skirmishers were only a body of con- 
victs, outlaws and robbers, and the citizens generally, instead of 
encouraging or joini:ig them, were using every effort to put 
them down. 

As my notice ot the operations of Quitman's command after 
the storming of the castle of ChapultepeC; has ijcen rather brief 
and limited, the reader might have a fuller and more satisfactory 
view of the movements of his command by inserting an extract 
from his official report, and for that purpose the following is 
subjoined : — "The Chapultepec road is a broad avenue, flanked 
with deep ditches and marshy ground on either side. Along 
the middle of the avenue runs the aqueduct, supported by arch- 
es of heavy masonry, through the garita or gate of Belen into 
the city. The rifles, supported by the South Carolina regiment,' 
and followed by the remainder of Smith's b}igade, were now 
advanced from arch to arch towards another strong battery 
which had been thrown across the road, about a mile from Cha- 
pultepec, having four embrasures, with a redan work on the 
right. At this point, the enemy, with considerable force, made 
an obstinate resistance ; but with the aid of an effective fire 
from an 8-inch hov/itzer directed by the indefatigable Captain 
Drum, and the daring bravery of the gallant rifle regiment, it 
was carried by assaidt. 

"The column was here reorganized for an attack upon the 
Vjatteries at the garita of the city. The regiment of riflemen, 
intermingled with the bayonets of the South Cai-olina regiment, 
were placed in advance — three rifles and three bayonets under 
each arch. They were supported by the residue of Shields' 
brigade, the 2d Peimsylvania regiment, and the remainder of 
Smith's brigade, together with a part of the 6th Infantry, under 
Major Bonneville, who had fallen into this road. In this order 
iha «olumn resolutely advanced from arcli to arch of the aque- 



tN MEXICO. 183 

due!, ami under a tremendous fire of artiilery and small ann^ 
from tlie batteries at the garita, the Paseo, and a large body of 
the enemy on the Piedad road to the right, extending t'rom the 
left of the garita. Lieutenant Benjamin having brought up a 
16-pounder, Captain Drum and his efncieut subalterns were 
pouring a constant and destructive lire into the garifa. As 
the enlilading fire of the enemy from the Piedad road became 
^■erv annoying to the advance of the columns, a few rounds of 
canister Avere throv/n l)y our artillery in that direction, which 
efiectually dispersed them. Tiie whole column was now under 
a galling fire, but it continued to move forward steadily and 
firmly. The rifles, well sustained by the South Carolinians, 
gallantly pushed on to the attack ; and at t\^'enty minutes past 
one the garita was carried and the city of Mexico entered at 
that point. In a few moments, nearly the vv hole command was 
compactly up — a larg.; part of it within the gariia. The ob- 
stinacy of the defence at tlie garita may be accounted ibr by 
our being opposed at that point by General Santa Anna him- 
self, who is said to have retreated by the Paseo to the San 
Cosme read, there to try his fortune against General Worth. 
On our approach to the garita, a body of the enemy, wao were 
seen on a cross road threatening our leil, were dispersed by a 
brisk fire of artillery from the direction of the San Cosme road. 
I take pleasure in acknowledj^ing that this seasonable aid came 
from Lieutenant ('olonel Duncan's battery, which had been 
kindly advanced from the Sa}i Cosme road in that direction bv 
General Worth's orders. Upon the taking oi' the garita, the 
riflemen and South Carolina regiment rushed forward and oc- 
cupied the arches of the, aqueduct, within a hundred yards of 
the citadel. 

"Tiie ammunition of our heavy guns having bt-en expended, 
a captured 8-pounder was turned upon the enemy and served 
with good effect until the ammunition taken with it was also 
expended. The piece supported by our advance had been run 
forward in front of the garita. Twice had Major Gladden, of 
the South Carolina regimeut, fiirnished additional men to work 
the guns, when the noble and brave Captain Drum, who, with 
indomitaljle energy and iron nerve, had directed the artillery 
throughout the trying day, fell mortally wounded by the side of 
his gun. A few moments afterwards, Lieutenant Benjamin, 
who had displayed the same cool, decided courage, Uiot a simi- 
lar fate. 'J'he enemy, now perceiving that our heavy ammuni- 
tion had been expended, redoubled their exertions to drive us 
out of the lodgment we had efiected. A torril>le fire of artiller}- 
and small arms was opened from the citadel, three hundred 



184 SCOTt's CAMPAiGN 

yaixls distunt, iVotn the batteries on the Paseo, and the build- 
ings on our right in Iront. Amid this iron shower, which 
swept tlio road on l)oth sides of the aqueduct, it was impossi- 
l)ie to liring forward ammunition from our large trains. While 
awaiting the darkness, to bring up om* great guns, and place 
them in battery, the enemy under cover of their guns, attempted 
several sallies from the citadel and buildings on the right, but 
were readily repulsed by the skirmishing parties of rifles and 
infantry. To prevent our flank from being enfiladed by mus- 
ketry from the Paseo, Captains Naylor and Loeser, 2d Penn- 
sylvania regiment, were ordered wilh their companies to a low 
sand-bag defence, about one hundred yards in that direction. 
They gallantly took this position and held it in the face of a 
severe fire, until the object was attained. At night the lire of 
the enemy ceased. Lieutenant Tower, of the Engineers, who, 
before and at the attack upon the batteries at Chapuitepec, had 
given important aid, was now seriously wounded, it was, 
therefore, fortunate that in the commencement of the route to 
the city. Lieutenant Beauregard, of the Engineers, joined me. 
I was enabled during the day to avail myself of his valuable 
services ; and although disabled, for a time, by a wound receiv- 
ed during the day, he superintended daring the whole night the 
erection of two batteries within the garita for our heavy guns, 
and a breastwork on our right for infantry, which, with his ad- 
vice, I had determined to construct. By the indefatigable en- 
ergy of my acting Assistant Adjutant General, Lieutenant 
Lovell, my volunteer aid, Captain G. F. M. Davis, and Lieuten- 
ant H. Brown, 3d artillery, the sand-bags and annnunition were 
procured; Lieutenant Beauregard, assisted by Lieut. Coupe, 
directing the construction of one battery in person, and Lieu- 
tenant W. H. Wood, 3d Infantry, the other, before the dawn of 
day, by the persevering exertions of Captains Fairchild and 
Taylor, of the New York regiment, who directed the working 
parties, the parapets were completed, and a 24-pounder, an 
18-pounder, and an 8-inch howitzer, were placed in battery by 
Captain Steptoe, 3d artillery, who, to my great satisfaction, had 
rejoined my command in the evening. The heavy labor re- 
quired to construct these formidable batteries, under the very 
guns of the citadel, was performed with the utmost cheerful- 
ness by the gallant men, whose strong arms and stout hearts 
had already been tested in two days of peril and toil. 

" During the night, while at the trenches. Brigadier-general 
Pierce, one of whose regiments (the Oth infantry,) had joined 
my column during the day, reported to me in person. He was 
instructed to place that regiment in reserve at the battery in 



m MEXICO. 185 

the rear, for the protection of Steptoe's ligltt battery and the 
ammunition at that point. The General has my thanks for his 
prompt attention to these orders. At dawn of day on the 14th, 
when Captain Steptoe was preparing his lieavy missiles, a 
white flag came from the citadel, the ])Garers of which invited 
me to take possession of this fortress, and gave me the intelli- 
gence that the city Jiad been abandoned by Santa Anna and his 
army. My whole command was immediately ordered under 
arms. By their own request. Lieutenants Lovell and Beaure- 
gard were authorized to go to the citadel in advance, to ascer- 
tain the truth of the information. At a signal irom the ram- 
parts, the column, General Smith's brigade in front, and the 
South Carolina regiment left in garrison at the garita, marched 
into the citadel. Having taken possession of this work, in 
which we found fifteen pieces ot cannon mounted, and as many 
not up, with the extensive military armaments which it con- 
tained, the 2d Pcniisylvania regiment was left to garrison it. 
LTnderstanding that great depredations were going on in the pal- 
ace and public buildings, I moved the column in that direction in 
tlie same order, fdlowed by Captain Steptoe's light battery, 
through the principal streets, into the grand plaza, where it 
was formed in iront of the National Palace. Captain Roberts, 
of the ride regiment, who had led the advance company of the 
storming party at Chapultepec, and had gi'eatly distinguislied 
himself during the preceding day, was detailed by me to plant 
the star spangled banner of our country upon the National 
Palace. The flag, the first strange banner that had ever waved 
over that palace since the conquest of Cortez, was displayed 
and saluted with enthusiasm by the whole command. 'J'he 
palace, already crowded with Mexican thieves and robbers, was 
placed in charge of Lieutenant Colonel Watson, with his bat- 
talion of marines. By his active exertions, it was soon cleared 
and guarded trom further spoliation. 

"On our first arrival in the plaza, Lieutenant Beauregard 
was despatched to report the facts to Ihe General-in-Chief who 
was expected to enter the city by the Alameda, with th« colunm 
under General Worth. About 8 o'clock, the Gencral-in-C^hief 
arrived in the plaza, and was received and greeted with enthu- 
siasm by the troops. The populace, who had begun to be tur- 
bulent immediately after our arrival in the plaza, appeared for 
a time to be checked, but in one hour afterwards, as our troops 
began to disperse tor quarters, they were fired upon trom the 
tops of houses and windows. This continued that day and the 
succeeding, until, by the timely and vigorous measures adopted 
by the General-in-Chief, the disturbances were quelled. Two 



186 scott's campaign 

detachments from my command, not heretofore mentioned in 
this report, should be noticed. Captain Gallagher and Lieu- 
tenant Reidj who, with their companies of New York volun- 
teers, had been detailed on the morning of the 12th by General 
Shields to the support of our battery No. 2, well performed 
their service. The former, by the orders of Captain Huger, 
was detained at that battery during the storming of Chapiiltepec. 
The latter, a brave and eaergetic young officer, being relieved 
from the battery on the advance to the castle, hastened to the 
assault, and was among the first to ascend the crest of the hill, 
where he was severely wounded. 

"In all the operations of the several corps under my com- 
mand, to which this report refers, it gives me great pleasure to 
testify to the devoted courage witii which they faced every dan- 
gex", and the cheerfulness and alacrity v.'ith which they met 
every toil and exposure. A simple narrative of those military 
events, crowned as they v/ere with complete success, is a higher 
compliment than any expressions of my opinion can bestow 
upon the general good conduct of the v/hole command. I have 
already alluded to the gallant conduct of the storming parties. 
Thej deserve the highest commendation, 'i'he losses sustained 
by Captain Drum's heroic little band of artillerists from the 
fourth artillery, evince their exposure during the day. I do 
them, officers and men, but juglice when I add that no enco- 
iniura upon their conduct and skill would be misplaced. 

"This report has already shown the prominent part taken by 
the regiment of riflemen under the command of the brave and 
intrepid Major Loring, who fell severely v/oundcd by my side, 
while receiving orders for the final charge upon the garita. 
After the taking of the batteries of Chapultepec, in whicli por- 
tions of this corps took an active part, this eflicient and splen- 
(hd regiment v»ere employed as sharp shooters in the advance, 
tlirough the arches of the aqueduct, where their services were 
invaluable. My only concern was to restrain their daring im- 
petuosity. The gallant and unassuming Palmetto regiment. 
which had charged up the ascent of CliapuUepcc without firing 
a gun, v.'as also employed to su])port and aid the rifles. In (his 
service their loss was severe. Among others, their brave and 
efficient commander. Major Gladden, vvas severely wounded, 
and Lieutenants .1. B. Moragne and Willis Cantey killed. But 
ihey well sustained the reputation they had acquired at ^'era 
Cruz, Contreras and Churubusco. 

"For the admirable conduct of the other corps of my com- 
mand, I refer to the reports of Brigadier General Shields and 
Smith, and Lieutenant (.'olonel Gearv. Tho brilliant succeaseii 



IN MEXICO. i87 

ot" the day were not acquired without considej'able loss. The 
repoi'ts herewith transmitted show that, in my whole command, 
eight ofilcers and si.vty-nine non-commissioned onicers and 
privates were killed, and four hundred and sixty-four officers 
and men were \vounded. and nine men missing, making the 
total of casualties five hundred and forty, besides those in the 
9th regiment of infantry, while under my command, not reported 
to nje. Brigadier (General Shields had solicited from me the 
command of the storming parties oa the morning of tlic loth. 
Not feeling justified in permitting so great an exposure of an 
officer of his rank with an inadequate command, the application 
was declined. Until carried from the (ield on the night of th<^ 
13th, i)i consequence of a severe wound received in the morn- 
iuir, he was conspicuous for his gallantry, energy, and skill. 
In Brevet Brigadier General Smith, who was ever cool, unem- 
barrassed, and ready, under the trying exposures of the day, 1 
ii^und an able and most efficient supporter. Lieutenant Colonel 
Geary, who, in the illness of Colonel Roberts, commanded the 
2d Pennsylvania regiment, constituting the second brigade of 
my division, was wounded before the walls of Chapultcpec, at 
the head of his corps, but soon resumed command and ren. 
dered good service. To Majors Loring and Dimick, and 
Captains Simonson and Alexander, commanders of regiments 
in Smith's brigade; Lieutenant Colonel Watson, j^lajors Glad- 
den and Burnham, and Captain Dunnovant, commanders in 
Shields' brigade, and to Major Brindle, who for a time com- 
manded his regiment, I am indebted for the active and fearless 
discharge of their duties in the direction of the operation of 
their respective corps while under their orders. 

"Of the storming parties, in addition to those already named 
in this report, Captain Dobl^ins, 3d infantry; Lieutenant Hill, 
4th artillery; Lieutenant Westcott, 2d infantry; Lieutenant 
Stewart, of the rifles; Lieutenant Haskins, 1st artillery; Cap- 
tain Reynolds, of the marines; Captain Miller, 2d Pennsylvania 
regiment; Lieutenant Bell, South Carolina regiment; and 
liieutenant Wolf, 2d Pennsylvania regiment, were highly dis- 
tinguished for their gallantry. Captains Backenstos, Porter 
and Tucker; Lieutenants Morris, Hatch, and Granger, of the 
rifles ;■ Captains Blanding, Dosaussure and Marshall, and Lieu- 
tenants Selleck, Lilley, and Moye, of the South Carolina regi- 
ment; Captain Taylor, New York regiment; Adjutant Baker, 
of tlie marines; Lieutenant F. T. Porter, 4th artillesy; and 
Lieutenant Hare. 2d Pennsylvania regiment, whose conduct 
happened to fall under my own eye, were conspiciions fljr their 
bravery and efficiency." 



188 SCOTT's cJkMPAIGK 

I have given this somewhat lengthy extract from official 
papers, in order that the reader might be more fully informed, 
from the most reliable authority, of the movements of that por- 
tion of our army before the city, which won the most imperish- 
able honors, in cutting their way by fire and sword through the 
most difficult and dangerous approaches to (he National Palace, 
that dear-bought goal of general ambition. I would not, how- 
ever, be understood as wishing to make invidious distinctions 
between the conduct of different commands, which is by no 
means my object, for I am willing to allow, in the language of 
General Scott, "that the Capital was not taken by one or two 
corps, but by the talent, the science, the gallantry, and prowess 
of the entire army of invasion." If any corps or arm of the 
service distinguished itself above another, it was owing to 
the more fortunate position in which it happened to be placed; 
for it is conceded by all the officers, and the General-in-Chief 
liimself, under whose immediate eye they acted, that all did 
their duty, and did it nolily, fearle^ssly, and faithfully. Had 
such not been the case, and that too in an eminent degree, our 
army never could have entered the enemy's Capital, under the 
circumstances they did, and against such fearful odds. 

Either from an unfortunate misunderstanding of matters at 
Washington, or from a design on the part of the War Depart- 
ment, for the accomplishment of some ulterior oliject, which 
would be forwarded by leading astray the public mind on that 
particular subject, the numerical strength of our army in the 
Valley of Mexico was very nearly trebled, and was so repre- 
sented in the public journals, commencing at Washington. 
What good could have resulted from such a misrepresentation as 
this, was, at the time, difficult to conjecture by those at the seat 
of war, and was a source of unfeigned regret and deep mortifi- 
cation to General Scott, as well as the officers and army gen- 
erally. Whether the darling object which prompted this strange 
manoeuvring, on the part of the civil authorities at home, was 
ever accomplished, I am, at j)resent, totally unable to say; but 
I will venture the assertion, that if those political wire-pullers 
accomplished no more at home than they did abroad, that they 
were at least badly paid for their trouble. But they may yet 
live to "receive the just recompense of their reward," as we 
are taught in the Sacred Writings that "the laborer is worthy 
of his hire." It required no Argus eyes to see the deep and 
cunning political game that was being played at home through- 
out tlie whole war. We find General Taylor at one time 
sweeping every thing ljef!)rc liim on the Rio Grande, and witji 
one bold and successful stroke of generalship following upoii 



IX MBxico. ,- 139 

the heels of another in such quick and spirited succession, that 
he began to be looked up to as the rallying point and leading 
spirit of the war, and was finally likely to become rather too 
popular across the Sabine, while his claims to the Presidency 
was being spoken of in some of the leading journals of the 
day. The strong arm of civil power is put forth, and he is 
stripped of the flower of his army, leaving him less than 5,000 
men, to hold the field against 20,000 ; but neither the over- 
whelming numbers of the foe in front, nor the "cross fire from 
Washington," could make that stern old General either retreat 
or surrender, but taking a decided stand, and boldly maintaining 
his groinid, he stakes his all upon the issue, and won one of the 
brightest feathers that ever decked his military cap. Scott had 
gathered a rich harvest of laurels in the valley of Mexico, and 
had wheeled his cannon around the ancient throne of the Span- 
ish viceroys, while his brilliant achievements were being talked 
of on both sides of the Atlantic. But just as he had reached 
the zenith of his glory, and had sheathed his sword for a kw 
moments repose in the " Halls of the Montezumas," he is struck 
down — not by a ball from the enemy's batteries, but by the 
irrevocable fiat of Executive authority, upon the very threshokl 
of the goal that his skill and valor had won, while a subordinate 
is assisted in an incendiary attempt to snatch from his brow the 
well-earned laurels which he had gathered in one of the most 
successllil and brilliant campaigns upon record; while a culpa- 
ble and high-handed eflbrt is made to invest another with the 
glorious achievements of victory, and make him the hero of the 
war. 



CHAPTER X\T. 

After waiting nearly three months at Puebla for reinforce- 
ments, General Scott was obliged, from mere paucity of num- 
bers, to leave very small, if not inadequate garrisons, at the 
dilferent posts in his rear, and marcli from Pueljla against the 
Capital with only 10,738, rank and tile, and 2,429 of that 
iumil)er arrived at head quarters only the day before the army 
commenced its march. At the Ijattlcs of Contreras and Chu- 
rubusco, on the 20th of August, the generai-in-chief was only 
able to bring into the field 8,497 efl'ective men, the sick and 
dead since leaving Puebla, and the garrison at San Augustine 
being deducted. At the battle of Molino del Rey, which was 
fought on the 8th of September, the whole force under Worth 



190 SCOTt's CAMrAiGN 

that was engaged in the fight, amounied only to 3,25^ eflicieiii 
men, which were brought into the field. After deducting still 
fiu'lher the losses of sick, killed and wounded, and the different 
garrisons stationed at the different points occupied as our depot 
and hospitals, our whole remaining force which was left to 
operate against the castle of ChapuUepec, and the San Cosmo 
and Belen, on tlie 12th and 13th of September, was reduced 
to 7,180. Then after deducting a competent garrison at Cha- 
pultepec, and the killed and wounded of the two jjreceding 
days, our army finally entered and took possession ot the great 
Capital of tl-.e Mexican Republic, with all its military stores 
and munitions of war, on the morning of the 14th of Septem- 
ber, 1847, wilh an army of less than 6,000 men ! And it was 
evident, from information obtained from the most reliable and 
unquestionable sources, that in all the l)attles of the valley, our 
army was, in every instance, opposed by not less than four 
times its own numbers ; and in many instances by even greater 
excesses. Our heavy and grievous losses will serve to illus- 
trate the daring intrepidity and determined courage of the whole 
army, and the bloody and obstinate defence of the works they 
carried. In the battles of Contreras and Churubusco, which 
were fought on the 19th and 20th of August, and which was the 
opening of the series of bloody conflicts in the basin of the 
valley, our loss in killed was 137, including Iburteen officers ; 
in wounded, 877, including 62 officers ; missing (probably 
killed,) 38, rank and fde ; making a total of 1052, in two bat- 
tles. At the battle of Molino del Rev, which was fought on 
the 8th of September, our loss in killed amounted to 116, includ- 
ing nine officers ; wounded 665, including 48 officers ; missing, 
18 rank and file ; making a total of 789. At ChapuUepec and 
the San Cosme, and the Garitade Belen, on the r2th, 13th and 
14ch of September, our loss in killed amounted to 130, includ- 
ing ten officers; wounded, 703, including' 68 officers; missing, 
29 rank and file ; total 862. The grand total of all our loss in 
the Valley of Mexico, from the battle of Contreras to the 
taking of the city, amounts to 2,703, including 383 officers. 
The number of Mexican forces engaged in defending the city, 
both within the walls and its immediate vicinity, has never 
been estimated at less than 32,000 men, who always fought 
with the advantages of position, behind breast works and na- 
tural defences of the strongest and most formidable kind. And 
notwithstanding the energy and spirit which must have been 
imparted to the contending hosts of this powerful and numer- 
ous army, from the circumstance of their fighting in full view 
of the Capital, and under the immediate eye of their wives, 



TX MEXICO. 191 

and sisters, and trit'iids, yet they were routed at every point, 
and driven in scattered and disorganized masses from their 
beautiful city, wliilo the loes (as they supposed) of their race 
and their reh'gion, were ])re8sing hard upon them, Koon to pol- 
hite the holy altars of their sanctuary by the hostile foot of the 
unregenerate. Their killed and wounded in the several en- 
gagements before the city exceeded 7,000 men, including offi- 
cers of ail grades, together a\ ith about 4,000 prisoners, one- 
seventh of whom were officers, including 13 Generals, of 
whom three had been Presidents of the Republic. Among the 
trophies of victor} taken by our army were numbered 20 colors 
and standards, 75 pieces of artillery, 57 light wall pieces, and 
20,000 stands of sn)all arms, together with an immense quan- 
tity of pov.'dcr, shot and shells. This was perhaps the most 
numerous and best equipped army that ever was mustered under 
the Mexican ilag, and commanded by officers who had been 
born and bi'ed in the school of the soldier, learning the hard 
lessons of discipline and tactics amid the dangers and vicissi- 
tudes of the field of action, for which the struggles with the 
mother country, and the recent revolutions and civil wars that 
almost annually rock and convulse the civil institutions of that 
country afiord such ample scope. 

General Scott, in his official report, says: — "Of that enemy, 
once so formidable in numbers, appointments, artillery, &;c., 
twenty odd thousand men have disbanded themselves in de- 
spair, leaving, as is known, not more than three fragments, the 
largest of Avhich nmnbeis only about 2,500 men, now wander- 
ing in different directions, without magazines or a military 
chest, and living at free quariers upon their own people. 
General Santa Anna, himself a fugitive, is believed to be on 
the point of resigning the Chief Magistracy and escaping to 
neutral Guatemala. A new President, no doubt, will soon be 
declared, and the Federal Congress is expected to re-assemble 
at Queretaro, 125 miles north of this, on the Zacatecas road, 
some time in October. I have seen and given safe conduct 
through this city to several of its members. The government 
will find itself without resources ; no money, no arsenals, no 
magazines, and but little revenue, internal or external. Slill, 
such is the obstinacy, or rather infatuation, of this people, that 
it is very doubtful whether the new authorities will dare sue for 
peace on the terms which, in the recent negociations, were 
made known by our minister." 

Immediately on the capture of the city, and the stationing of 
the troops at different points, so as to guard against secret 
attacks and insure the safety of the garrison, Major General 



192 scott's campaign 

Quitman was appointed by the Commander-in-Chief, Civil and 
Military Governor of Mexico, with all the powers and immu- 
nities incident thereto. The city was forthwith placed under 
martial law, and all the inhabitants thereof, both Americans and 
Mexicans, were held ame^iable to the rules and articles of war, 
and liable to be punished for a disregard of the same, in that 
manner and to the extent that the powers that be might see 
proper to inflict. The honor and foith of the American army 
was also pledged for the protection and safe guard of the Capi- 
tal itself, together with its churches and religious worship, its 
convents and monasteries, and its inhabitants and property; in 
consideration of which, a contribution of 150,000 dollars was 
levied upon the resources of the city, and to be paid in four 
weekly instalments of 37,500 dollars each, beginning on Mon- 
day, the 29th of September, and ending on Monday, the 11th of 
October, at which time the demand was to be liquidated. The 
collection and payment of this tax was made the duty of the 
Ayuntamiento, or corporate authorities of the city, and they 
alone were held responsible for the prompt and punctual pay- 
ment of the same. Twenty thousand dollars of this contribu- 
tion was to be appropriated for the purchase of comforts and 
necessaries for the sick and wounded in the various hospitals, 
while 90,000 dollars were to be expended in the purchase of 
blankets and shoes for gratuitous distribution among the rank 
and file of the army, and the remaining 40,000 to be reserved 
for contingent expenses, and necessary military purposes gen- 
erally. It is scarcely necessary to add that the amount was 
promptly paid and expended as above designated. 

**:»:* Q^ f jjg evening of the 9th and the morning of 
the 10th of March. 1847, the American army, consisting of about 
14,000 men, under the command of Major General Scott, was 
landed on the beach near the island of Sacrificios, three miles 
below the city of Vera Cruz, and which was immediately in- 
vested by all our forces, and finally surrendered after a siege of" 
fifteen days. The bloody and hard-fought battle of Cerro 
Gordo followed in quick and rapid succession, in which our 
army was again victorious, although sustaining some heavy and 
severe losses. This battle ground was left the day it was won, 
and the conquering forces dashed past Jalapa, while the eagle 
eye of our brave old Genera! was bent upon the tall spires of 
the Capital, and every pulse beat high for its attainment. After 
a brief and restless sojourn at Puebla, the final move was made, 
and the domes and steeples of the proud city of the Aztecs soon 
burst upon the admiring gaze of the army of the North. Con- 
t reran falls before our conquering legions, and the haughty Va- 



i:? MEXICO. 198 

lencia is a fugitive in the mountains ; and Churubusco's bloody 
field is swept with the whirlwind of battle, till Anglo-Saxon 
valor finds no enemy to strike. The armistice arrests the tide 
of battle, and stops for a moment the desti'oying wheels of the 
Juggernaut of war; and our army is allowed a moment to 
breathe and staunch the blood of the wounded. But the battle's 
red glare soon breaks afresh upon the weary soldiei-'s dreams of 
repose; the pent up thunders of a nation's wrath are loose 
again, and playing in lurid flashes about the foot of the castel- 
lated hill of Chapultepec, while the garnished walls of Molino 
del Rey feel the shock and tremble to their deep foundations. 
The battle opens — Huger's batteries speak to the foe — the 
earthquake tread of contending armies shakes the trembling 
hills, a shout of defiance goes up, and the field is won, and the 
works are ours. And soon the strong towers and frowning 
batteries of Chapultepec, the pride and strength of Mexico, 
follows in the mournful and bloody wake of its dismantled pre- 
decessor. A living tide of shattered brigades and mutilatec' 
regiments now pours itself down the torn and cleft sides of that 
blood-stained hill, and rolls its angry and broken waves far to- 
wards the trembling gates of the city; the conquerors and the 
vanquished, the pursuers and the pursued, often becoming lost 
in the confusion, and mingling in one indiscriminate mass. 
The San Cosme is stormed and carried by the intrepid Worth, 
while Quitman is down upon the Belen in a stream of fire, 
hurling his battling legions like an ava,Ianche against the dense 
masses of the foe with a vengeance that soon puts an end to the 
bloody conflict, sweeping before him the yielding battalions o! 
Anahuac's chivalry. He pours his impetuous troops over the 
walls and along the suburbs, brushes by the frowning guns of 
the citadel, and amid the deafening shouts of thousands, plants 
the proud stars of his hcirt's loved home upon the classic walls 
of Montezuma's Palace. And now, after the short space of six 
months, this little army has marched three hundred miles, 
through the very heart of the enemy's country; fought sevei! 
bloody and decisive battles; killed, woutided and captured no' 
less than 15,000 of the enemy; taken 500 pieces of artillery. 
30,000 stands of small arms, together with immense quantitlc 
of ammunition, baggage and army stores; and is now, on tb 
morning of the 14th of September, in full, peaceable, and qui' 
possession of the powerful and opulent Capital of the Meiica 
Republic. 

But these laurels were not v.'on, nor those victories achievec' 
without proportional loss on our part. Three thousand of or 
bravest troops, including near five hundred officerg, now pre- 
9 



194 scott's campaign 

their bloody beds upon a foreign soil, while the low murmur of 
the evening wind, as it moans through the tall grass above their 
graves, sings the funeral dirge ot the departed heroes, who 
offered up their lives at the shrine of their country's honor. 
As our army advanced towards the Capital, and more especi- 
ally after the fall of ChapuUepec, the most strenuous and un- 
paralleled exertions were made by the citizens to save their 
beloved and beautiful city from the contaminating footfall of the 
"ruthless invader." Women and beautiful damsels were seen 
with disheveled hair and streaming eyes, anil hands uplifted to 
heaven, rushing like maniacs to and fro through the streets, 
imploring their fathers, brothers, husbands, a:nd lovers, co arm 
themselves and join in the last desperate struggle to save their 
virtue, their honor, their altars, and their fire-sides, from the 
desolating march of the "savage bax'barians of the North." 
They, in the enthusiastic fulness of their souls, would frequently 
take the rings from their fingers, or the diamond cross trom 
their necks, and placing them upon those of their friends whom 
they were endeavoring to incite to go tbrth to battle ; and some- 
times they would even tie their shawls and rebozas as scarfs 
about their waists, in order to keep constantly in their minds 
the fair and innocent bosoms they were defending, which might 
nerve their arms amid the storm of battle, and enable them to 
strike home a surer and deadlier blow for the fair daughters of 
their city, and the untarnished escutcheon of their country's 
honor. This task being done, they would rush to the different 
churches and spend days and nights upon their knees, implor- 
ing the patron saint of Mexico to vouchsafe success to the 
Mexican arras, and scatter defeat and dismay among the ranks 
of her adversaries. There are many Spartan mothers, and 
sisters, and wives in Mexico, who inspired the waning courage 
of the soldiery with fresh life and energy, and armed and sent 
forth thousands of the first classes — the clilc of the republic — 
to meet Scott at the gates of the city, and strike anotlier blow 
for the honor of the Mexican flag. Neither vvere the priests, 
the gowned dignitaries of the church, idle spectators amid the 
thrilling and momentous events that were passing around ; they, 
too, had paramount interests at stake, and the sacred robe, the 
huge shovel hat, and the holy cross, were every where seen 
mingling in the battle's bloody din, encouraging those around to 
fight for tiie sacred emblems of their holy religion, and invoking 
the blessings ot''all the saints in the calander, and especially the 
"Virgin of Guadalonpe, on the efforts they were making to 
guard her sacred temple from the desecrating touch of the infidel 
invader. 



IIV MEXICO. 195 

But all the patron saints of Mexico were found inadequate to 
save the doomed and beleaguered city. The sons of the fathers 
of '76 were there knocking at its gates, and clamoring for en- 
trance, and they were invincible, and knew nothing but to ac- 
complish whatever they might undertake. The quick and fiery 
blood of the conquerors of Lundy's Lane, Chippewa, Cowpens, 
and King's Mountain, was coursing through their veins, and 
heated by twelve hours hard fighting; the tempting prize was 
now in full view, and they were making the last death-struggle 
to grasp it. 

The blood of the priesthood flowed in mingling streams with \ 
that of the common soldiery, and several of that holy order ; 
were found among the slain, with the gown and cross stained 1 
with the warrior's blood, who had left the sacred altars of their i 
holy religion to join tlie crusade against the "infidel invader," ' 
and assist in striking anotlier blow ibr their civil and religious .' 
rights. And even women, beautilul and innocent, in all their ■ 
native loveliness, bared their tender bosoms to the raging storm 
of battle, and tought like heroes beside their husbands, and i 
fathers, and brothers; some disguised in men's attire, and' 
dressed as common soldiers, and sorrie in their own ordinary 
costume. A mother and her child were both found dead near 
one of the batteries; the mother had followed her husband to 
battle, and had fallen, and the child had followed the mother and 
shared the same fate. Such examples of devoted and self- 
sacrificing patriotism among the lair and lovely daughtero of 
their city, must huve exerted a powerful and controlling influ- 
ence upon the great mass of the citizens generally, and nerved 
their arms and inspired their hearts to deeds of nobler daiing. 

A large body of men, amounting to several thousand, formed 
from the wealthy and aristocratic classes, organized themselves 
into a military corps, and armed and equipped in the most gor- 
geous and costly manner, went forth in the last extremity to 
meet the enemy at the gates of the city, and assist in striking a 
last and powerful blov/ for their families and homes. They 
called themselves the "Polka Guards," and made a grand and 
martial appearance as they moved in solid column through the 
streets, in their rich and gaudy uniforms, with martial music, 
colors flying, and their bm-nished armor glittering in the sun. 
This corps was composed of the wealthy and professional por- 
tion' of the citizens — the rich haciendero or planter, the lawyer, 
the doctor, and the merchant — many ot whom had probably 
never been in ranks before, and who, like Napoleon's Imperial 
Guard, were never called into action only on the most extraordi- 
nary occasions, and the present was deemed a crisis of sufTicient 



196 scott's campaign 

importance to rally them to a man, and justify the extremity of 
a Waterloo charge. But with all their rich array of gaudy 
trappings, "the pomp and circumstance of glorious war," com- 
bined with the pi'ompt and reckless intrepidity with which they 
rushed to the conflict, yet they were unable to strike terror into 
the ranks of our advancing columns, who rained such a tempest 
of leaden hail among their fast thinning ranks as caused them to 
slacken their onward pace, then halt, and falter, and finally fled 
in the utmost disorder and confusion, leaving the ground cover- 
ed with their dead. 

The following brief but rather unique sketch of the military 
operations in the Valley is Irom the pen of an intelligent Mexi- 
can, and mny not prove uninteresting to the general reader: — 
"The terrible noise of a 16-pounder gun, at 2 o'clock in the 
afternoon of the 19th of August, and at the same time the call to 
arms played by all the bands of the army that had re-united in 
Mexico, announced to us that the enemy had commenced their 
march for this Capital, with all their trains of war. No one 
can conceive the desire we felt to go forth to the field of battle; 
the middle and poorer classes ran to the barracks of the soldiers 
to present themselves for the defence of their country. The 
larger portion of the rich and aristocratic classes did no more 
than attend to their own interests and prepare for their journey 
to whatever place cowardice suggested. The coaches went out 
in every direction, the wagons and carts carrying furniture and 
other moveables; and finally fright completely overawed this 
class, which had always desired a foreign prince. General D. 
Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna had been constituted Dictator, 
(per onian secula,) the liberty of the press was at an end, and 
there was no law but his will; but it was said this was for the 
good of the country. The first chief of the soldiery was the 
second Sultan. Ris edicts and his tricks were continual; the 
number of his bailifls who walked the streets was greater than 
that of peaceful men abroad to find a bit of bread for their 
children, who, hungiy and crying, begged the means of preserv- 
ing life. The whole southern side of the city, from the old Pe- 
non to the Garita of San Cosme, v>'as found strongly fortified : the 
parapets, trenches and pits, found even within the limits of the 
city, presented an imposing aspect. This line of fortifications, 
extending at least five leagues, was, wiihout doubt, intended to 
be sufficient to resist an army of fifty thousand men. On the 
following day, (20th August,) all the regular troops went out, 
and the following National Guards, viz: Mina, Victoria, Hi- 
dalgo, Independence, Union, Bravos, &;c. The Penon road 
was fortified and appeared impregnable ; the enthusiasm was 



O MEXICO. 197 

augmented every day; the public spirit was reanimated; and it 
appeared as if union had been effected. The Mexican army 
may be estimated at thirty thousand, inchiding the National 
Guards. The force of the enemy was as follows: fourteen 
thousand soldiers, four or five thousand men attached to the 
army, and a little more than two hundred Poblanos, mounted as 
their au?:iliaries, and wearing a red badge on their hats, per- 
haps to enable their friends to distinguish them at a distance. 
Tlie enemy entered the valley of Mexico, and came in one 
body towards the fortifications of Penon, but when within a 
quarter of a league, left this place and went to the hills of 
Contreras. The small limits of this publication will not permit 
us to give the minute details of their movements ; but without 
doubt we shall inform our readers of this extraordinary affair, 
which, to the Republic, is a matter of life or death. ISt.h clay 
of the month — General Valencia having declared eternal dis- 
regard of ail the orders of General Santa Anna, acted solely 
according to his own judgment and will. At half-past 11, a. m., 
the enemy made a reconnoisance of the position occupied by 
our force inPadierna, (?) with a thousand infantry, two hundred 
cavalry, and two pieces of artillery. They had a little skirmish- 
ing with the guerrillas and retired to Pena Pobre. Gen. ■. 

communicated this circumstance to General Santa xlnna, who 
immediately sent to General Valencia the following order, viz : 
'At tiie dawn of day to-morrow, you will march the troops un- 
der your command and take a permanent position at the village 
of Coyoacan, sending forward your artillery to the fortification 
of Churubusco.' 

"General Valencia made some excuses in reply, and did not 
obej. I9fh dap of themonili — In the morning the enemy pi-e- 
pared to attack General Valencia, and the result proved the fol- 
lowing arrogance in that officer. He says, in an official com- 
munication: 'After a hard combat with the Anglo-American 
force, I have the high honor to inform you that I have put to 
shameful flight, with the valiant troops I have the honor to com- 
mand, all the Anglo-American forces, who, united, have invest- 
ed my position and attacked me in every possible manner, from 
12 o'clock at noon until 7 o'clock at night.' Intoxicated with 
this triumph, he commenced givi!>g a multitude of promotions. 
At a quarter-past one o'clock at night, D. Jose Maria Ramiro 
verbally gave him the order of the President, that he should 
retire, as he coidd do the same night; because the President 
could not assist him with the six thousand men that he had, on 
account of the deep ravines that stretched themselves in his 
front." 

g* 



198 scott's campaign 

The two hundred mounted Poblanos with red badges on their 
hats, which the Mexican writer speaks of in the preceding arti- 
cle, were a company of guerrillas, or Mexican soldiers, denomi- 
nated "The Spy Company," and was commanded by Colonel 
Dorainquez, a brave and efficient officer, and also himself a 
native Mexican. This was indeed a splendid company, well 
uniformedj mounted and equipped. It was organized in Puebla 
shortly after the arrival of our army at that place, and having 
been ill-treated by the Mexican government, and not wishing to 
be disbanded, it concluded to offer its services to General 
Scott, who thought proper to accept them under the circum- 
stances ; and from that time until the end of the war, they did 
effective service,' both in the field and as spies and scouts. 
They fought well, were active and brave, and always came off 
victorious in the various skirmishes they had with the guerrillas 
under Rca, Terrejon, and others. They were mounted on 
handsome and spirited mustangs, armed with swords, lances 
and escopets, and wore bands of red about their hals, as badges 
of distinction and recognition. I saw this company after peace 
was made, at Encerro, on their way towards the coast.' They 
■ embarkecT with our troops at Vera Cruz, and landed at New 
Orleans, from whence they contemplate proceeding to Yucatan, 
for the purpose of assisting the whites against the Indians ; as 
they would most evidently have lost their heads had they been 
found in their native country after the termination of the war. 
They were paid for their services the sum of 25 dollars per 
month by the United States government, and furnished with 
arms, food, and clothing, and guarantied a safe passage to the 
United Slates, or some neutral territory, at the close of the war. 

The following extract from the "American Star," a paper 
published in the city of Mexico during its occupation by our 
army, may perhaps be considered in point : 

"When the mail reached Nopalucan, about three o'clock in 
the morning, and just as the advanced guard of four men entered 
the plaza, the well known Mexican hail of '■'■ Quie.n Vive''' was 
heard from a vieson, and before any answer could be made, bang, 
bang! went two escopets. The guard immediately fell back to 
the wagon, ten men were placed around it as a guard, and the 
remainder, some fifteen or sixteen, started ofi' to open the way. 
They advanced carefully to the plaza, and just as they got oppo- 
site the meson, a heavy volley was poured upon them. Lieut. 
Steed gave the order to charge, and in half a minute they had 
reached the house and driven the party inside. The doors were 
instantly closed, so that there was no chance of getting to them. 
The Lieutenant called for an axe from the wagon, and whilst it 



IN MEXICO. 199 

was being brought a voice cried out in tolerable English, in- 
(]uiring if" we were Yankees. The answer was, 'you'll soon 
Iind that out.' At that moment the door opened, and the iat 
face of Domhiquez showed itself- He was quartered there for 
the night, and his sentinels not expecting Americans at that 
hour, had tired upon our })arty. A mutual understanding was 
soon eliected, and we parted — the Colonel overjoyed when he 
ascertained that none of us had been hurt." 

Colonel Don:iinquez was a brave man and a good odicer, and 
in every instance proved taithful to his trust, and never showed 
the least disposition to betray the confidence reposed in him by 
General Scott. During the operations of our arn;!y in the valley. 
Santa Anna made him an offer, through a confidential friend, of 
the office of General of Division, if he would consent to blow 
up tiie American magazine, and flee for protection to the shel- 
tering wings of the eagles of Anahuac. But this low and 
dastardly proposiiion he indignantly refused, and forthwith made 
known to the American commander the brUliant offer that 
Santa Anna had made him, but which he had firmness and de- 
cision of character enough promptly to refuse. His faith was 
not plighted to the Mexican arnsy or government, and, in ail 
])rol)ability, never was, as his manner of life had ahvays array- 
ed him against the recognised authorities of both the civil and 
military powers of the Republic. Consequently ho could not 
be considered as compromising his principles of patriotism, or 
justly incurring the opprobrious epithet of traitor to his country, 
merely because he was acting in concert with the enemies of 
Mexico. 

Patriotism in that countiy is a word that will alrn't of a vc;y 
latitudinarian construction, and not unfrequently means that 
principle which induces a man to join the most popular and suc- 
cessful leader, and fight on the strongest side, no o !ds whe'Jier 
it he for or against his country. It is a tolerably well authen- 
ticated fact, that the Mexican soldier is most generally let out 
to the highest bidder, independent of every other consideration, 
and he who pays the highest price can array the largest number 
of troops under his flag, without being troubled with questions 
as to what he is going to fight for, or who he is going to fight 
against. 



20O sgott's campaign 



CHAPTER XVII. . 

A great many things have been said against the great Mexi- 
can chieftain, Santa Anna; some have supposed him to be des- 
titute of that degree of courage whicli is necessary to constitute 
a distinguished and successful military leader, while others have 
supposed him to be perfectly destitute of all political honesty, a 
weather cock, standing to the popular breeze, and seeking the 
popular tide, no odds which way the current might beat, so that 
it might bear him on to the post of place and favor; willing to 
sacrifice the dearest and most vital interests of his country at 
the shrine of personal ambition. I do not feel authorized, from 
the evidence in the case, eilher ora,l or written, to acquit him 
entirely, or to enter up judgment against him on all the above 
charges. I am willing that the recorded acts of both his civil 
and military career shall bear testimony, and that thereby he 
shall stand condemned or acquitted at the bar of an impartial 
public opinion. But notwithstanding the different opinions 
which may be entertained by different individuals, respecting 
the talents, courage and honesty of this great man, whose life 
has been marked bv as many striking and important events as 
any man of his age, yet we must all, both friends and foes, al- 
low him credit for, at least, a degree of energy and persever- 
ance, which often appeal's to have been prompted by something 
that wore the garb and bore the semblance of patriotism. He 
has stood long and faithfidly by the waning interests of his 
country, never deserting her, even in misfortune's darkest hour, 
while he could rally a force to defend her rights. It is well 
known that, from the liHing of the curtain at Palo Alto, and the 
commencement of the first act in the great military drama was 
announced by the Ihundcr of the guns at Fort Brown, till the 
American flag was unfiirled and its golden stars glittered in the 
firmament, high above the proud scat of the Spanish Viceroys, 
that the Mexican forces nrre)- gained a victory, or even a tem- 
porary advantage over the invading foe ; but defeat followed 
defeat in every instance where an enemy was met. Thus with 
the resources of the nation completely exhausted, and her ener- 
gies broken down, and her army half fed, half clothed, dispir- 
ited, and scattered in broken and disorganized fragments over 
the country; at this low ebb in the state of national aflairs, 
Santa Amia, with a j)ermil in his porket, written in the White 
House at Washi7igton, passes the l>lockading squadron of the 
United States and enters the city of Vera Cruz. He finds his 



IN MEXICO. 201 

country in a deplorable condition ; her ports blockaded, and her 
territory invaded by a powerful and warlike nation, whose mili- 
tary resources were almost inexhaustible, with many of her 
principal towns and cities already in possession of the enemy. 
But notwithstanding the gloomy aspect of affairs, and the dark 
and angry clouds that lowered in the sky of his country's hopes, 
he yields not to despondency and despair, but instantly sets about 
collecting an army from the shattered fragments that were scat- 
tered over the country, w;th which to strike another blow for 
the honor and safety of the Republic. By his active and pow- 
erful influence, new life and vigor are infused into the pulseless 
energies of the nation, and her flagging hopes begin to revive, 
and he is enabled, in a short time, to concentrate 20,000 men at 
San Luis Potosi, from M'hence, after a hasty organization, and 
a hurried outfit, he marches against General Taylor at Agua 
Nueva, which is followed by the bloody and decisive, but, to 
him, disastrous battle of Buena Vista, in which the Mexican 
army retreated with great loss; and Santa Anna, with the dis- 
organized remnant of his late numerous and powerRd army, 
was compelled to fall back in disorder upon San Luis. Soon 
after which, the fall of Vera Cruz and the Castle, and their oc- 
cupation by the troops of the American army, reached his ears, 
following rapidly in the sad train of events. But nothing in- 
timidated by recent defeats and crowding misfortunes, he im- 
mediately contemplates another stand, and instantly sets about 
collecting an army from the scattered remnants of his former 
forces, and puts them in motion for the National Bridge, a dis- 
tance of more than 800 miles from his present position, at which 
point, by a series of rapid forced m.arches, he hopes to be able 
to meet and cut off the advance of the American army towards 
the city. And a position could not have been found on the 
whole route from Vera Cruz to the Capital which v/ould have 
more favored the prospects of a successful defence, or where a 
small body of men could have more effectually resisted almost 
any odds that might have been brought against them. It is 
true that Santa Anna did not succeed in reaching and fortifj-ing 
the National Bridge, as was originally his intention, being an- 
ticipated only a few hours by General Twiggs, who was fortu- 
nate enough to reach the bridge first, which compelled the Mex- 
ican forces to fall back a few miles upon a very strong position 
called "Cerro Gordo," which was almost, if not quite, as well 
adapted to Santa Anna's purpose, as the originally intended 
point at the National Bridge. It will b'C remembered that the 
battle of Buena Vista was fought on the 23d of February, and 
by the middle of April, Santa Anna was at Cerro Gordo, with 



202 »C0TT'» CAMyAISN 

an army of 16.,000 men, still hugging the delusive phantom, and 
clinging to the frail hope, the last floating plank of his country's 
wreck, that victory might yet declare for the Mexican standard, 
and perch in triumph upon the proud banners of Anahuac. 
More again, after a bloody and obstinate conflict, he had to 
.'Mibmit to the mortification of seeing his army a second time 
cut to pieces and completely routed, while he himself, after nar- 
rowly escaping Ijeing captured, was driven from the field with 
scarcely men enough to cover his retreat. He is hotly pursued 
through Jalapa ; stops a moment to breathe at neutral Puebla, 
and then dashes on to the Capital, with only a few hundred fol- 
lowers who still clung to his person and hovered around him in 
the hour of his adversity as a kind of body guard. 

And now, I ask, where is the man that would not have sunk 
beneath the rapidly accumulating weight of misfl^rtunes which 
seemed to follow the footsteps of this eccentric but notable per- 
sonage? His last forlorn hope, in the way of an army, was 
defeated and scattered — a large portion of the citizens of the 
Capital was clamoring for non-resistance — the energies of the 
nation completely paralizcd — the public treasury utterly ex- 
hausted — and a victorious army, flushed with recent victory, 
was rapidly advancing upon his rear and swallowing up every- 
thing in its wake. Arista and Ampuclia had been defeated on 
the Rio Grande, at ever}'^ point between Point Isabel and Mon- 
terey — Vera Cruz had fvllen into the hands of the enemy — the 
redoubtable Castle which cost forty millions of dollars, and 
v.'hich has been styled "the Queen of the Seas and the bulwark 
of Mexico," was now in peaceable possession of the army of 
the North, and he himself — Mexico personified — had been twice 
signally defeated in as many pitched battles, and opposed by 
numbers greatly inferior to his own in every instance. And 
now the American army, confident of final success, and loaded 
with the spoils of victory, are on full stretch for the Capital, 
with not a gun, or a fortification, to oppose their {)rogress to the 
very gates of the city. And it is a fact well authenticated, that 
ui> to the time of the arrival of General Worth with the advance 
of our army at the city of Puebla, there was nothing like a 
regular organized army at the city of Mexico, nor a fortification 
erected for its defence, nor a breast work thrown up, nor a gun 
mounted. I mean, of course, that none of these preparations 
were made with particular reference to the approach of Gen- 
cj-al Scott's army, for we all know that Mexico is a fortified 
city, and is always protected by forts and castles, and works of 
military defence. 

And liad it not been for that unfortunate delay at Puebla, 



IN MEXICO. 203 

which was no doubt the fault of the War.Depavlment and its 
friends and advisers, General Scott, with his whole army, might, 
have entered the Capital in less than ten days after the battle of 
Cerro Gordo, without the firing of a gun. And here fjllows 
one ofthe most striking exempiifications of Santa Anna's energy 
and perseverance, together with the almost unbounded control 
which he exercised over the minds and wills of the Mexican 
people, which has? any where appeared uj)on the record of his 
public history. There was a large and influential party in the 
cily v.'ho were opposed to further resistance and 2'ofused to aid 
in preparing for its defense, while the army was scattered in 
broken 'fragments all over the Repul>!ic, wandering about and 
living by plunder, without arms, artillery of ammuniiion, or a 
recognised leader to direct or control their movements. In the 
midst of such a state of things as this, without the active and 
efficient co-operation of any other great leader, and while our 
army was in five days march of the gates of the city, Santa 
Anna, for the iirst time, commences collecting another array 
from the inefficient and chaotic masses of material which he 
could reach. Fortifications rise up, like Jona's guard, in a 
night, and the troops fi-om all parts of the country flock by 
thousands to his standard, on which is written nihil desperaii- 
dam, there is no such word as fail. And by the 18th ot xiugust, 
when the first gun was fired, which announced that active ope- 
rations had commenced in the Valley, he had collected, officer- 
ed, and organized an army of 32,009 men, and fortified every 
approach to the city in the strongest possible manner; and I 
will venture the assertion that no nian, in or out of ftlexico, 
could have collected, in so short a time, and held together, that 
number of jMexican troops, almost without pay or rations, and 
then have made a better defence, with the material which he 
had to operate with, than he did under the circumstances. 

But with all his influence, skill and energy, he was doomed to 
sutler another and a final defeat: and after being driven from 
the city, the star of his empire seemed to wane, 3.nd ho never 
was able to collect a sufficient force to make a prominent stand 
afterwards. It is true he marched tov.ards Puebla with 8,000 
men, and demanded of Colonel Childs the surrender ofthe gar- 
rison, which v.as refused, and after some pretty severe skirmish- 
ing, he withdrev.' his forces, and moved to intercept General 
Lane, who was then on the march from Vera Cruz with 5,000 
troops to relieve the garrison at Puebla. The two armies met 
at the town of Huamantla on the 9th o^ October, and after a 
short but bloody contest, the forces of Santa Anna were defeated 
and driven from the field with great loss, soon after v.hich h« 



"504 SOOTl's OAMIAIUN 

loll thoi covjutrv. ajxl is now, fi>r the tUitvi limt^ a voluntary exile 
iu a toroiga laud. The lii\> au<5 chai^cior of this: grvat, Iwit 
xmtoilunaJo man, have i>oc\3pied enoh a proniijient iv'isitiou in 
both the civil anil militan history of ?y{exico for the last twenty, 
live >vars. as to attraet in some degree the attention of the 
civiliKeil worlil; ami it is almost im}X%ssible towiite or sjx'-ak to 
any c<-»nsiderahle extent of the history of the country during 
that peri*\i without the fix^quent mention ot^ his name. Gen. 
Thomp^son, in his " Keeollections of Mexico," sa>-« "that he 
regards him as, nnn'o than any other jnan, the author and (in- 
i.sher of the last successful struggle of Mexico tor iuiiejx^ndonce 
and a republican fmn of govennnent.*' liuieed his >-ery ll^el- 
ing^ seem a.l\va^>^ to Ijave leaned toxx^vn^s republicanism, xvhile 
an early and deep grounded antijwthy to every thing like mo- 
narchial prir.ciples seenis to have woven itself abtnit every fibre 
of his heart and aftections. and xvhich has marked and influ- 
enced his life and co'.uluct throughout his whole public career. 
The lirst move towanis disputing the power of th.e mother coun- 
try, and thn>xx ing od' the yoke of Oki Spin, xvas made by IX^n 
?iiiguol Hidalgo, wh«\ in the Wginning ofthext^ar 18 Upraised 
the republican standani upon the xvalis of Guauitjuato. atidcom- 
nHMiced the crusade tor iixJe}>eiKience, For a long time the 
Mexicans had Ix^en x-erj^ nujch oppresses! by their tyrannical 
and unleeang task masters, xvhile every office of honor, profit, 
and tnist, lVon\ the earliest history of their colonial serviiiKle, 
V.ad inv:uiably l>een tilled hy 8jvanish natives — ^!iot house 
>, - ic^s of tyranny and oppression, sent over to till ot^rces. collect 
t.> ■ i. and drain the fuvancial irsources of llie colony, tor the jnir- 
}\\se of enriching the cnnvned heads of Spain, ajid filling the 
i>k>alixi coffers of the mother c*nmtry. The country x»-as ri}>c 
for reWUion and rexolt : the xveight of the oppressor's hand had 
ly^en felt in all its galling bitterness atni degradation, and the 
great mass of the citizens were ready tor anx insurrectionary 
measure, xvhile the Kitent s}Virks of revokitiv>n xvere fast kind- 
ling into a J'atne. All that the jv^ople xvanted x\-a$ some Ivfki ainl 
daring leader, xx-h<> conki give tone to public sentiment, nxise 
the donnant euei^ies of the nation, and direct and control an 
ellkient and oi^vnized movement against the hin^ling and uht- 
cenary instruments of Sp;\nish oppression. Such a leader as 
this they found in the p^^rsoa of the humble and obscure prish 
priest of" Dolore*. and thousamls flocked to his st;»ndani, and 
delegated a shout to swell the earthquake tones of the cry tor 
liberty. 

He raiseil the standanl of revolt, ami commence*! his car>fer 
with not more than a dozen avihexx'uts ; but a few brilliant and 



IN MfiVirio. '!()(') 

miiccchhIuI HtrokfiH of yniirrnlHliip lir(iiij;lil lln-, (liHiillinJod |i(i)mi- 
liilioM ill rrowdn (<» join liiw luniy. IIJHdiiily iiirrciiHiii/r iiiiiii- 
Imth h<kiii »'iiiiI»I«'i| liitii lo ninirli !i;;iiiiiHt, niid siilidiic iinvcriil oC 
ijin liii'tn>r luwiiH mid cilici!. Tlir pnpiiloiiff niid wciilljiy r'tly 
III' <<iiiiii!iiii.'iJ,!i fidl itilo tlin IiiukIm of l.lii'4 itiliiri.'itcd iiiirl vicioii- 
nii I r.'tldilc, hclitiii lli(i '.niliiH (>\ wldrli llidfilfni, willi n. |)Hiiihh- 
fiKHiK iii.iMH of Iwciily (lioMMiiiid iindiiudpl iiH'd, luill-ii lined Indi- 
iiiiH, |»Mlili<'ly pruid.'UMU'd Ihc ind<'|M'iid''iic(i oliMrxii-o, Hfcnrlii/r 
III liiin.Mcir Uin jmoikI lillc ol' " ( ;!i|il;iiii-(«<'iii'iiil of Aini'ricu." 
Il<^ WHS Hooii joini'd hy MoriilcH, who wan iiIho (i, |Mi(iHl., lint 
wli(» |ios(H<!HH('d (III) ("l(^ni('iilH ol'ii liold iMid .'idvcnlnroiiM ( !!i|»lMiii, 
:ind ;i(i,i'r a Hci'ifM of Hploiidid virtoiicH, wliidi inci'c.iiMfcl liii-; 
I'jililijc ;iiniy (o morn lliiiii liliy thoMKitiirl irinii, iif iii!ii'di''<l 
:i,'.^:iiiiH(. dm city oC Mi'xi<'o, mid ini'l, mid dcdiJilnd (,h<" SpmiiHli 
(uici'.'i iiiidfT 'rin\iIlo !i,iid ,\ii;.oi:itin Ihirliid'-, .'it, (lie pjinH of Lii,n 

( 'lllC(';l. 

Iii'i|<iicd willi «-on(id<'iic-,(!, mid (liiHlicd with recent, virlory, 
1 1 id.'ilj^o l»iiHhed on hiH coniiiierinji h'jrion<-i (o Ihn very {rtileM 
of the c-ily, when liccoinin;^ iippnMed by the iiiiniher, mid 
Miiperior nriiiH mid diHei|iline of thoHo who o|)|)OMe(l him, ho 
Hiiddenly ri'treJiJed with hin [imiioHtricIuiii hontH, kiK^wing hh ho 
did liiiit, miother hmcIi victory iih Ihiit of r,tiH ('niccH wouhl 
utterly niin Jii.M mrny mid >:ciitler IiIh undiHciplined ((mcch In 
every direction. H(! wjim jiuniii niel, on the 7tji of Novcmhcr 
l>y (ilenerjil (I.'ilh'JM, on the, [iJainH of Aciiico, and wfi,n dcdl'sited 
.111(1 ronte<| with the Iomh often thnuHand liiflimiH, vvIki wr'r(i left, 
driid upon (he lield; and whitdi wan Hliorlly lollovved hy another 
bloody li.'ittle, which took place on the I7tli of J.'i niiiiiy, and 
rcKiilted in Iho total defl'iit mid ^leat Hlaii(j;hlei' ol the, (brecH 
miller llid!il;;o, iit tln! I)iiil<;c, of (!iiMeron, by the nmiie (ieneiiil 
lli;it h:id 1,0 hitely driven him in luHinny from the field of Aciiico, 
This proved a de.'itli blow to the lio|)es of Ili<l!il;.';o, and he, Hoon 
retr(';ite,d with only about four llioiiHJinil IbllowerH lovvji rdn Hiil- 
tillo; but he wan never Jible to iiiiike another Klaiid, suid hooii 
:ilier, investing <«eiiei;i,l Rayon with tin- cliiel' eommmid of the, 
iiiMiir/jjent !irmy, lie bift liir the United Htaten, accompmiied by 
(b-neral Allende ami other olfi'-ern mid friendH, fin' the pnrpoHc 
of obtainin,'^ aririH, ammunition, &<;., mid r.'iiHinff a 1 iiflie.ient 
iiiiml)er of letwiiitH to enable him to re<tomnience hoMtilitifiH 
and pro.seciite the w.-ir with renewed lifl-nnd finer^y a^.-iiiiHt the, 
prevailitiff powers of (Ik! mother country. I'lit in thin he waH 
iiiiHiiccesHliil, and wan betrayed on tlm IrontifMK of 'J'e.x;iM by 
one, of his «)wn pjirty, laki-n priHonrir and cjiiried b.'ie.k in f;haiiiH 
to (Jliihnaliiia, where Im wtm tried, tof.n!tlier with thirty of hi.i 
ufliccrn, and condemned and cxccnlcd. Kendall, in liin "JSunta 



206 SCOTt's CAMPAIGIi 

Fe Expedition," says that he was confined in the same room 
where Hidalgo and his companions wore their chains, imme- 
diately preccdins; their execution, and that the very spot where 
they fell was ])ointcd out to him. 

Thus fell Hidalgo, and thus ended the first abortive attempt 
towards Mexican independence, in which the republican army 
was cut to pieces and scattered, and its leader publicly executed 
in less than six months after he had first raised the standard of 
revolt. Although the insurrectionary spirit seemed crushed for 
the time, yet the ball of revolution had been put in motion, and 
it was destined to roll on, until the dominant power of Spain 
should be crushed forever. Morelos snatched the falling stand- 
ard of human liberty as it fell from the palsied hand of the 
Martyr Hidalgo, and waving it on high, attempted to rally the 
populace to the defence of their rights, but he found the priestly 
opposition too strong for him, and of course his plans Ikiled of 
success, and defeat a second time attended the patriotic efforts 
of the friends of humanity and equal rights. 

But the spark that still slumbered in the smouldering embers 
was not totally extinct, and the struggle still went on, with 
prospects sometimes bright, but more often dark and gloomj', 
until the year 1821, when General Iturbide, a Spanish officer 
of some distinction, who commanded the loyal army which was 
intended to operate against the insurgents, and blot out forever 
the last remaining traces of revolution, proved a traitor to his 
cause, and at once espoused the side of the patriots, together 
with his whole army. This sudden and unexpected movement 
very much changed the aspect of affairs for the time, and finally 
enabled the revolutionists to gain a complete and bloodless tri- 
umph, almost without striking a blow, and which was immedi- 
ately followed by. what appeared to be, the permanent esta- 
blishment of the independence of the country, and the usurpa- 
tion of supreme power by the amijitious and intriguing Iturbide, 
under the royal title of "Augustin the first." 

The overthrow of the Spanish power throughout Mexico was 
immediately followed by proposals of a plan to change the 
form and character of the government, called by its author 
"the plan of Iguala," or "the Three Guarantees." This im- 
portant step towards the recognition of a new and more conge- 
nial form of government was suggested and superintended by 
the newly risen star of power, the lenient and patriotic Don 
Augustine Iturbide, and which was submitted by him, in per- 
son, to an assemblage of the most prominent officers and lead- 
ers, which had been convened for the purpose at Iguala, on the 
24th of February, 1821. And thus we see that this reformed 



IN MEXICO. 207 

and reorganized government, with all the rights and immunities 
which it proposed to secure to the country at large, was to be 
nothing more nor less than a military despotism ; a government 
which ever has prevailed in Mexico, and still does at the pre- 
sent day. The plan of Iguala, as submitted by Iturbide and 
his adherents in power, and adopted by the military authorities, 
proposed, among other things, the maintenance, preservation, 
and perpetuity of the Holy Catholic religion — the intimate and 
inseperable union of the Creole and European population, and 
the separate and independent government of Mexico. And, 
finally, on the 18th of May, 1822, General Iturbide, commander- 
in-chief of the patriot army, was proclaimed Emperor of Mex- 
ico, with the title of "Augustin the first." He had reigned in 
regal pomp and splendor but a short time, when his tyrannical 
acts and ambitious designs soon convinced the people that the 
successful termination of the late revolutionary sfriiggle had 
gained them nothing but a change of masters, with the advant- 
ages, if any thing, in favor of the former, without extending 
their rights or relieving their burdens. The few remaininp- 
spirits who still continued faithful to the cause of the true inter- 
ests of their country, and whose lives and services had been 
identified with the struggles of the patriot army, had retired to 
their homes, or were scattered among the mountains, where 
they were anxiously v/aiting an opportunity to strike another 
blow for the crushed and bleeding cause of human liberty and 
equal lights. 

In the mean time, the Emperor was basking in all the daz- 
z'ing splendor of regal authority, surrounded by the parasites of 
power, and guarded by an army of fifteen thousand men, which 
was regarded as suflicient to insure his safety against the -pro- 
nunciamcnioSf and keep his throne firm beneath him. Things 
went on in this way until January, 1823, when General Santa 
Anna, then only a Colonel, and in command of a regiment 
stationed at Vera Cruz, with a bold heart and a strong arm, 
once more sounded the tocsin call to arras, and raised tlie stand- 
ard of republic liberty. 

With no other adherents but his own regiment, he took up 
the line of march for the Capital, with the intention of subvert- 
ing the power of Iturbide, destroying his government, and es- 
tablishing a republican one in its stead. This was considered 
])y all as rather a bold and daring movement, for an obscure 
Colonel, with only one regiment, to declare against the govern- 
ment and attempt a revolution ; but the sequel will show that the 
boldness of the attempt was only equalled by the energy and 
skill with which it was carried on to a happy and successful 



308 icott's campaign • 

termination, which crushed the last vestige of monarchial 
power in Mexico, at least under that name, and established a 
li'oeral nnd permanent republic, or at least as much so as the 
people of that country are capable of appreciating. Iturbide 
did not at first think that this revolutionary movement was of 
sutHcient importance to justiiy the trouble and expense of organ- 
izing and fitting out a force to put it down. It is true that the 
first speck of disatfection did not appear to the haughty and 
self-secure Emperor to be larger than a man's hand ; but it was 
destined soon to spread itself over all the political sky and 
sweep away with the breath of the storm the last remaining 
prop which sustained his tottering throne. 

General Echevari was sent from the Capital at the head of 
a force deemed sufficient to crush the presumptuous Colonel and 
his little band of followers, which it was thought that he could 
effect without the loss of a man. The advance guards of the 
two forces hud several pretty severe skirmishes between Vera 
Cruz and Jalapa, but without any important advantage being 
gained on either side. At length the two rival commanders 
met, and Santa Anna, aware that his force was too slender to 
risk a general battle, avoided an immediate fight, and had re- 
course to stratagem, and so managed, by his deep cunning and 
artful and insinuating address, as to induce Echevari to aband- 
on the cause of the Emperor and join the patriot army, which 
he did with his M'hole force. 

This at once invested Santa Anna with the command of a 
large and respectable body of men, and threw a ray of light 
athwart the future pathway of that bold and daring leader, and 
inspired the few friends that still surrounded him with a more 
bright and promising hope of ultimate success. And here we 
meet with an instance which goes to prove that there was one 
time in his life at least, Nvhen he had too much patriotism to 
allow his overweening ambition, or an insatiable thirst for per- 
sonal aggrandizement, to thwart the interests of his country or 
impede the progress of republican liberty. 

The defection of Echevaii placed Santa Anna at the head of 
a considerable army, of which he was, bo7ia fide, the com- 
mander-in-chief; and as such, he had it in his power to have 
marched against Iturbide, overthrow his government, and finally 
have filled the Presidential chair. But he was then scarcely 
twenty-five years of age, and he decided that the good of the 
country, and the success oflhe principles of liberal political 
reform, required that some one more known to fame, and whose 
distinguished services in the patriot army had given him a more 
extended reputation, should head the revolutionary forces ; one 



IN MEXICO. 209 

whose name would be a watchword, and who would be able to 
rally to his standard the scattered material of a once powerful 
and numerous army. Accordingly, ho instantly resolves to call 
Victoria from his mountain cavern, whence he had fled after 
the assumption of supreme power by Iturbide, and at once re- 
sign to him the command of the whole insurgent force. Vic- 
toria hearkened to the call of his bleeding country, emerged 
from his hiding place among the mountains of Vera Cruz, and 
assumed the counnand of the patriot army. Thousands rallied 
at his call, and the march against the Capital was resumed, 
which resulted in the complete overthrow of the govei-nment of 
Iturbide, his banishment from the country, and the ultimate es- 
tablishment of a more liberal form of republican government. 
A new plan was formed o!i the 2d of February, 1823, called by 
its framers the ^^ Act of Casas JTalas,'' by which that of Iguala, 
or the "Three Guarantees," was entirely superceded. Don 
Augustino Iturbide was proclaimed Emperor of I\Iexico by the 
army and the people of the Cap.tal on the 18th day of May, 
and the few remaining deputies constituting the fragments of a 
National Congress, sanctioned the proclamation by a decree; 
and Iturbide was regularly installed, with great pomp and cere- 
mony, in the palace of the viceroys, under the title of Augustin 
the First. "The Act of Casas Matas, guaranteeing a republi- 
can form of government, was universally adopted, and Iturbide, 
finding himself deserted by all parties, abdicated the throne on 
the 19th of March, just ten months after he had first ascended 
it ; he was escorted to the coast near Vera Cruz, and on the 1 1th 
of May embarked with his family for Leghorn." Since which 
time the government of Mexico has been of a free and republi- 
can form, or at least has been received and recognized as such; 
and it must be allowed, for the facts which go to establish it are 
historic, that Santa Anna wss the prime mover and guiding 
spirit of the revolution, which overthrew and blotted out for- 
ever the last vestige of monarchial principles that ever germi- 
nated in the proliBc soil of Spanish tyranny and oppression, and 
gave to Mexico her present federal republic. 

On the 4th of October, 1824, a constitution was framed, 
adopted almost exactly upon the plan, and copied very much 
from that of the United States, the two most material differ- 
ences were that the Catholic religion was to be sustained and 
supported to the exclusion of all others, and the great Magna 
Charta of civil liberty, the trial by jury, was not recognized, 
under this new constitution. General Victoria was elected 
President, and General Bravo, Vice President. In 1829, when 
General Ban-adas landed at Tampico, v.ith 4,000 Spanish 



210 scott's campaign 

troops, for the purpose of successfully strangling the infant 
Hercules, which was still struggling for existence in the cradle 
of successive revolutions, and paralyzing the energies of Colo- 
nial revolt, Santa Anna immediately set about collecting an 
army to oppose him. Having succeeded in obtaining the ser- 
vices of seven hundred j-aw recruits at Vera Cruz, he immedi- 
ately set out to meet the proud invader of his country's rights, 
with the intention of giving him battle, although the odds against 
him were more than five to one. Leaving Vera Cruz in small 
open l)oats, he landed at Tampico and found that General Bar- 
radas had passed into the interior with the main body of his 
troops, leaving one thousand men to occupy and defend the 
town, v.'hich he attacked on the morning of the first of August, 
and after a long and bloody conflict, the troops of the garrison 
surrendered tlsemselves prisoners of war. The Spanish Gen- 
eral, with his whole force, was afterwards attacked in garrison 
at Tampico by General Sanla Anna with about 1200 men, and 
after much hard fighting for several successive days and nights, 
Barradas surrendered his army, together with their arms and 
munitions of war, after which he soon sailed, with the small 
remnant ^of his army, for Havana. The surrender of the 
Spanish forces took place on the 11th of September, 1829, 
since which time Old Spain has never made any attempt to- 
wards recovering the revolted province of Mexico. The au- 
thor of "Mexico and her Military Chieftains," says: — "As 
Mr. Thompson, the Envoy of the United States, says, this de- 
fence of Santa Anna recalls to us the history of General Jack- 
son's famous defence of New Orleans, the strong point of which 
was not, as has been supposed, the defense of the city behind the 
cotton bags, but the night attack on the British immediately 
after their landing amid the wind and rain, which enabled the 
officers of Engineers to throw up the breast works, which such 
men as it was the privilege of the American General to com- 
mand, could defend against any force. One thing, hov/ever, is 
sure, the strategy of Santa Anna on that occasion was second 
to no feat of arms which has occurred on this continent, except 
the defense of New Orleans. The result of this affair was 
the promotion of Santa Anna." In 1841, he pronounced 
against the government of President Bustamente, and with 500 
ragged, undisciplined troops, he marched upon the city and 
overthrew the power of the President, who was protected by an 
army of 8,000 regular troops, and defeated and banished him, 
while the provincial goveinment was organized by the proper 
authorities at Tacubaya, by which Santa Anna was invested 
with supreme power. 



\ 



IN MEXICO. 211 

Ke was inaugurated President of the Mexican Republic, 
under this new organization, on the tirst of January, 1841, by 
which he succeeded in destroying the beneficial effects of the 
constitution of 1824, and fastened again upon the people the 
odious central system \Ahich caused the revolt of Texas and 
several other States of the confederacy. Fay Ro])inson says: 
"No one, we fancy, will call Mexico a republic, or Santa Anna- 
a patriot; as Mr. Thom}>soii says he is not a mode! man, but he 
is a great one. He has outlived all his early associates, while 
every man who began life with him is either dead or an exile." 

I would not be considered either the indiscriminate eulogist 
or calumniator of Santa Anna. I have only stated facts, from 
which the pul)iic can judge of his character, without venturing 
an opinion of my own. I have gleaned these facts from vari- 
ous works of Mexican history, which I have thus tlirown to- 
gether, in as intelligible a manner as possible, forming a short 
and condensed historical sketch, in order -that the reader may 
be better able to judge of some of the more prominent traits of 
his life and character, as cxhil>ited in the ever-changing drama 
of Mexican revolutions and civil wars, from the humble capa- 
city of the Colonel of a regiment to the President of a Republic. 

It was thought by some, that when peace was made and our 
forces were withdrawn from Mexico, that Santa Anna would 
return and join the anti-peace party and declare against the 
government of Herrera : but such, as yet, has not been the 
case, as I learn from the papers that he is still at Havana, the 
place of his former exile, and that several meml)ers of his 
family have recently left Vera Cruz with the intention of joining 
him in his distant home. Whether he will ever return to Mex- 
ico and attempt to recruit his fallen fortunes and re-instate him- 
self in power, is a problem which time alone can solve ; but 1 
should not be at all surprised to find him ruling that whimsical 
and capricious people as their President, in a very few years, 
and in all probability before the term of Herrera's administra- 
tion expires. It is well known that Santa Anna can do more 
with the Mexican people, and can exercise a more pov.erful and 
controlling influence over their minds, wills and destinies, than 
any other man living ; and his powerful mind and active ener- 
gies v,'ill not be allowed to lie dormant long at a time. 

The following brief sketch of the person and appearance of 
Santa Anna may not prove uninteresting to the general reader; 
it is taken from General Thompson's most excellent work on 
Mexico: — "General Santa Anna is now about fifly- four (Ro- 
binson says forty-six) years of age. He is about five feet ten 
iiichcs high, with a finely proportioned person. His complex- 



212 SCOTT S CAMPAI6?i 

ion is of an olive cast, but not indicating any mixture of blood, 
although I believe he is not of pure Castilian lineage. I do 
not know that I have ever seen a more striking and finely 
formed head and face; there is scarcely a feature or a point in 
either that Spurzheim or Lavater v^-^ould desire to change. I 
remember to have heard a distinguished American statesman 
remark, when Santa Anna was in Washington, that he had 
rarely seen a face indicative in a higher degree of talent, firm- 
ness and benevolence. Mr. Poinsett had an interview with 
him in 1822; he saw and judged of him free fromwthe false 
glare of high position and extended reputation. Santa Anna 
was then only Colonel of a regiment, and Mr. Poinsett was 
particularly struck with his high bearing and polished manners. 
Madame Calderon de la Barca bears the same testimony to the 
grace, ease, naturalness of manners, and the thoughtfulness 
and repose which are so striking in his countenance; and on 
this subject, there isno authority so conclusive as that ot a well 
bred and accomplished lady. 1 have seen no countenance ex- 
cept that of General Jackson, whose range of expression was 
so great, where there was so great a ditferenc; ])etween the 
quiet expression of the face when at rest and in a gentle mood, 
and its terrible ferocity when highly excited." 



CHAPTER XVI [I. 

The garrison which was left by General Scott at Puebla in 
August, when our army marclied against the Capital, for the 
purpose of protecting and taking care of the sick and holding 
possession of the city, consisted of six companies of the first 
Pennsylvania regiment, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel 
Black ; one company of the 3d Dragoons, under command of 
Captain Ford; company B, second artillery, under Captain 
Kendrick ; and a force of two hundred detached troops at Fort 
Gaudaloupe, under the direction of Captain Morehead ; together 
with the convalescents of the general hospital stationed in the 
church buildings of San Jose and San Juan de Deus, and com- 
manded by Captain Rowe, of the 9th infantry; the whole of 
which, composing the garrison of Puebla, was placed under 
the immediate command of Colonel Childs, of the od artillery, 
v.'ho had been appointed Civil and Military Governor of Puebla. 
During the time that the main army was quartered at Puebla, 
the Palmetto regiment occupied the large and spacious build- 
ings, including the San Domingo Church, while their sick was 



IN MEXICO. 213 

placed in the hospital at San Francisco, on the western suburbs 
of the city. But when the army left for the city of Mexico, the 
sick of this regiment was removed to the Tivoli, a most beauti- 
ful and romantic spot, to which is attached one of the most 
lovely and extensive gardens I ever saw. A bold running 
spring of clear cold water gushes from the earth at the foot of 
a little mound, within a few steps of the door of our quarters, 
and is shaded by a grove of tall green trees, very much re- 
sembling the poplar t)f this country. They were planted in 
rows, and enclosed a beautiful Paseo, or Alameda, which was 
one of the chief resorts of the fashionables of the city on Sab- 
bath afternoons, Avhen it never tiiils to be crowded to overflow- 
ing from about J5 o'clock until sun down. The titick for car- 
riages and horsemen is circular like a race course, and is about 
a mile in circumference, while the paved walk for pedestrians 
is on the outside of the track, but within the wall, and is fur- 
nished with seats at short intervals, and in the centre is a large 
fountain, with several beautiful jets of water spouting up high 
in the air, and then Hilling back in the basin, looking at a dis- 
tance like ribljons suspended in the air, or streams of molten 
silver. I have seen this beautiful track crowded with hundreds 
of carriages, from every window of which peered the face of 
some gay and smiling senorila, dressed in all the gold and tin- 
sel and gaudy trappings of the "Lowell of Mexico," while the 
gay and dashing cahalleros, mounted on their spirited and richly 
caparisoned steeds, would each salute his favorite doncella on 
passing her carriage, which he did by gently raising his som- 
bero and slightly inclining his body, which never failed to be 
recognized and returned by the fair object for whose special 
benefit it was intended, by a most killing smile, and a gentle 
wave of the fan, the import of which is perfectly understood by 
the parties concerned. This kind of polite and friendly ma- 
nojuvring is called corte, (courtship,) and is frequently carried 
on fjr months, and sometimes years, when it most commonly 
terminates in marriage, without the parties ever having spoken 
to each other. 

We had remained in our pleasant quarters at the Tivoli about 
two weeks, when an express arrived from Colonel Childs, or- 
dering us to prepare to i-emove our sick early on the following 
morning, to the General Hospital at San Jose church, near the 
Citadel, which was the garrison head quarters, as it was con- 
sidered dangerous for us to remain a longer time at a point so 
remote from the main force. Frequent volleys of musketry 
had been heard for several nights in the direction of the main 
plaza, and the citizens generally seemed to be in an unusual 



214 ■ SCOTT S CAMPAIGN 

-State of excitement ; while large parties of horsemen, appa- 
rently lancers with arms under their cloaks, had lately been 
seen collecting at various points in the vicinity of the suburbs. 
All these hostile indications induced Colonel Childs to believe 
that a general and organized attack upon the garrison was con- 
templated, and he forthwith set about strengthening his defen- 
ces, and preparing his slender force in every possible way, to 
meet the crisis which appeared to be threatening him on all 
sides. Everything around portended the gathering storm 
which was intended to crush and overwhelm our little garrison, 
and the most active measures were taken to meet and avert the 
impending danger ; the outposts were called in, strong piquet 
guards were placed upon the housetops, and at the corners of 
the streets ; the line of sentinels were definitely marked out, 
and the posts doubled. 

The San Jose buildings are large and commodious, and con- 
tained about live hundred sick and convalescents, all under the 
medical direction of Chief-Surgeon Mills, assisted by Drs. 
Stephens, Campbell, Perrin and Ovvings. In passing from 
the Tivoli on the evening of our removal, I fell a little behind 
the wagons, having in charge a sick soldier, whom I was as- 
sisting in carrying his own baggage. Just after passing the 
San Francisco church, T heard a brisk firing in the direction of 
the Grand Plaza, and on inquiring of a sentinel what it meant, 
he informed me that it was supposed to be some skirmishing 
between the citizens and the guerillas, and in a few moments 
we might expect them to be upon us, Vv'ith lance and escopet. 
I suggested to my sick companion the propriety of quickening 
our pace as much as possible, as we had already passed the 
dead bodies of several of our soldiers, who had been overtaken 
in the streets, and after having been pierced through with a 
lance, were robbed, and their bodies left exposed. In crossing 
the street leading to the main plaza, I cast my eyes in that di- 
rection, and saw a vast crowd of persons, of all ages, sexes 
and conditions, who seemed to be very much excited, and were 
hurrying to and fro, in every direction, while, at the same time, 
I could distinctly hear the incessant roar of small arms, and 
see the flashes of the guns from the housetops. 

Quickening our steps a little, we hastened forward, and soon 
reached in satlity our quarters at San Jose, where we all con- 
fidently expected an attack that night, and immediately set 
about making the best preparations we could, to meet the exi- 
gencies of such an event. There you might have seen the 
emaciated invalid, labouring under the wasting influence of 



IN MEXICO. 215 

protracted disease, with sunken ^ye and tottering limb, exam- 
ining his musket, and putting it in order for the coming fight. 

At length the firing ceased, the turbulent crowds in the streets 
disappeared, the sun went down, and the darkness of the night 
shrouded in gloom the busy and excited populace, and closed 
the thrilling events ot that eventful day. Every man was at 
his post, and a sharp look out was kept from the house-tops, 
and church-steeples, until a very late hour, as it was still ex- 
pected that the firing would be renewed, under the advantages 
which the night might afford the enemy in choosing his position. 
But, contrary to the expectations of all, hostilities were not re- 
sumed, and peace and quiet brooded upon the bosom of that 
mighty and populous city, and nought was heard through the 
long still watches of that anxious night, but the lonely senti- 
nel's tread, and the vigilant watchman's cry. The next morn- 
ing rose bright and beautiful ; not a fleecy cloud spread its 
white wings upon the horizon's verge, nor dimpled, vt'ith its 
snowy vesture, the azure cheek of heaven ; not a breath of 
air came forth from the orange groves to fan the fevered brow 
of the invalid soldier, or waft a whispered sigh towards the 
long lost home of his childhood; the bright dew drops that lin- 
gered upon the half blown rose, sparkled like diamonds in the 
morning's sun, while the lofty spires and golden steeples of the 
beauteous and lovely city of the angels, glinted back the mild 
rays of Aurora's first born. 

The day passed off in peace and quiet, without any further 
demonstrations of hostility, save the collecting and dispersing of 
various bodies of horsemen on the neighboring heights, who 
seemed desirous of reconnoitering our position, and determin- 
ing, if possible, the strength of our works and the number of 
ourforces. The busy notes of preparation were heard through- 
out the whole extent of the American lines, while every effort 
Avas being made l)y night and day to strengthen and fortify our 
position, which was done in daily expectation of an attempt to 
storm our works, or the institution of a regular siege. The 
line of our future operations was carefully and definitely marked 
out, and our sentinels posted, which area included about four 
blocks or squares on the north eastern borders of the city. All 
communication was immediately cut off between our troops 
and the citizens without our lines ■;and an order was issued by 
General Rea to all Mexicans who might reside within the line 
of our sentinels, to remove beyond it within (he space of twenty- 
four hours thereafter; and all those refusing to comply with this 
order, would be considered as traitors to their country, and be 
dealt with accordingly. About fifty families were thus deprived 



216 seOTx's CAMPAIGN 

of the comforts of a home ayd driven forth into the streets to 
seek aid and protection from the kindness of friends, or the cold 
hand of charity. 

On the night of the 9th of September, a large party of 
Guerrillas, or land pirates attacked the wagon yard, drove the 
guard from their positions, and captured and carried off about 
seven hundred mules, together v/ith other property to a large 
amount, belonging to the American army. The next day the 
wagon masters, teamsters, clerks, assistant clerks, quarter mas- 
ters, commissaries, &c-, numl>ering in all about fifty men, se- 
cured the requisite number of horSes, and armed with swords, 
muskets and pistols, set off in pursuit, with the intention of re- 
taking the stolen property, and chastising the robbers. They 
overtook them some two or three leagues from the city, on a 
vast open plain, and just as they vvere mounted and ready for 
the start ; this was peculiarly unfortunate for our men, as they 
had hoped to come upon them by surprise, and attack them 
when they were unprepared for the conflict. Immediately on 
approaching within musket range, our party fired their pieces 
and then sounded the charge, and putting spurs to their horses, 
dashed furiously upon the foe, and were soon mingling with 
them in a hand-to-hand fight. But the lancers being vastly 
superior in numbers, and well armed and mounted, fought with 
every advantage, and after a short, but fierce and bloody con- 
flict, our party was overpowered and routed. Of the fifty men 
who went into the fight, only aboui fifteen returned to the city, 
the balance were either killed on the field or were overtaken 
and lanced in the pursuit. 

This bold and successful stroke of the enemy was consider- 
ed by all as the tocsin call to arms, and open and effective hos- 
tilities immediately commenced, and continued with unabated 
vigor for twenty-eight days. A young doctor from Kentucky, 
who was acting as assistant surgeon in the General Hospital, 
received a polite note from a young lady belonging to one of 
the first families of the city, with whom, he had become ac- 
quainted before the army left, stating that, at the hour of mid- 
night succeeding the 14th day of September, our garrison 
would be attacked at all points by a large body of infantry and 
lancers under the command of Generals Rea and Torrejon ; 
and sure enough her prediction proyed true to the very letter, 
for at the very hour, and on the very night specified, we were 
attacked by the very forces, and at the very points designated. 

The din of battle raged during the rest of that night, which 
rose above the ringing of bells, the clangor of arms, the bray- 
ing of trumpets, and the fierce shouts of the infuriated populace 



IN MEXICO. 223 

dou for this apparent digression, and proceed with the thread of 
my narrative. 

In the mean time, Colonel Childs had caused a battery to be 
erected across the main street leading from the Cuavtel to the 
Grand Plaza, which was formed of square bales of tobacco, 
something smaller than ordinary cotton bags, npon which he 
mounted two S-inch howitzers, by which he could completely 
enfilade the street in that direction for near half a mile. This 
batter} afterwards did great execution against the large bodies 
of infantry and cavalry, and the dense masses of disaffected 
citizens, who would frequently collect near the plaza as a place 
of general rendezvous, lor the purpose of organizing their forces 
designed to operate against us, and assaulting our works in 
solid column. 

The guns of Fort Loretto also did very effective service in 
dispersing the turbulent crowds who would daily collect about 
the Cathedral, and by firing rockets and ringing bells, endeavor 
to arouse and rally the populace; but a few rounds of shot and 
shells from the fort would disperse the mob, and in some mea- 
sure restore order and quiet. One shell which fell and exploded 
in the crowded market, is said to have killed twenty persons, 
and wounded as many more. I have frequently gone into the 
steeple of the San Jose Church to watch the course of the shot 
and shells from the fort, as they vv^ould roar through the air 
above my head, and then turning my eyes towards the plaza, I 
could see the point where they would strike, while the dense 
masses that were collected about there would be running and 
dodging in every direction. 

The siege had continued about two weeks, with repeated man- 
ifestations on the part of the enemy of a disposition to take us 
by storm; accompanied by an incessant fire of musketry by 
day and night, with only occasional intervals, Avhen General 
Santa Anna, having been defeated and driven from the city of 
Mexico, appeared before Puebla at the head of an army of 
8,000 men, and demanded a formal surrender of the garrison, in 
which he kindly proposed to allow Colonel Childs the privilege 
of leaving the city unmolested, after surrendering his artillery, 
arms and ammunition. But these terms — merciful and lenient 
as they were — were such as Colonel Childs did not see proper 
to accede to, so he immediately returned an answer, informing 
Santa Anna that he begged leave respectfully to decline sur- 
rendering his post at discretion, and that upon mature delibera- 
tion, he had determined to defend his position against any odds, 
lo the last extremity. 

The not© demanding a surrender was carried uudor cover of 



224 scott'r campaign 

a flag of truce, by Major Iturbide, together with several other 
of Santa Anna's aids, and who was candid enough to inform 
the General on their return, and before the written reply was 
received, that he need not expect any accommodations at the 
hands of that cross and crusty old Colonel, more especially if 
his face was to be taken as a proper index of his firmness and 
decision of character: but that if he expected to get either the 
"six hundred sick Yankees," or their arms and ammunition, it 
was more than probable that he would have to do it at the cost 
of some hard fighting. 

Colonel Ohilds immediately rode round to all the points occu- 
pied by the garrison, and informed them of Santa Anna's call 
upon him to surrender, and his consequent refusal and determi- 
nation to defend himself to the last. This intelligence was 
received by all with long ond loud shouts of applause, which 
echoed along the lines of the enemy and made the welkin ring ; 
and the enthusiasm manifested by the troops assured our brave 
and gallant commander that the material of which his little 
army was composed, was such as could be depended upon in 
the hour of danger: and that every jnan of that small but well- 
tried band had detej-mincd to stand by him to the death. When 
the army left, for the city in August, the flag from the staff on the 
walls of Fort Loretto had, from some cause or other, been re- 
moved, and the garrison now determined to have another; so 
they commenced looking about them for the proper material 
from which to make one. x\t length they found, in some nook 
or corner, an old Blexican iniiform, which was composed of 
about an equal proportion of red, white, and blue; this was 
soon torn into narrow strips, and an ex-tailor being ibund in 
camp, whose patriotism had induced him to leave the board for 
the barracks, a substantial flag, with tolerably decent stars and 
stripes, was forthwith manufactured and run up upon the flag 
staff, in proud defiance, and in iiill view of (he Mexican army, 
and v.'hich the whole garrison saluted as it went up with thi'oe 
hearty cheers. As soon as its flov^'ing folds v»ere flung to the 
breezo, the band assein!)!ed round it, and struck up the tune of 
Yankee Doodle, amid the deafening shouts and cheers which 
burst simultaneously from all points occupied by the garrison. 

By the dawn of the next day, at least, we all confidently ex- 
pected that the combined forces of Santa Anna, Rea, and iTor- 
rejon, amounting in all to about 15,000 men, would open their 
batteries in fire and smoke upon us, and march their serried 
ranks in solid columns againstevery fortified point of our Avorks 
at the same time, with the intention of taking us by storm, or 
driviiiji us from our poisitiou at the point of the bayonet, Ae- 



cordingly we speut lluit atteriiooii and night i!i preparing for 
what we conceived to 1)o the last desperate struggle ot' the 
siege, which we now conceived to be inevitable. For wc all 
seemed almost intuitively to have arrived at the conclusion, 
that, in accordance with the established usages and customs of 
modern warfare, that a deniand of surrender on the part of one 
army, followed by a refusal to comply on the part oi"the other, 
was almost invariably succeeded by a fight. But in this we 
were destined to be disappointed. The firing, it is true, was 
commenced at quite an early hour, and was kept up with consi- 
derable spirit throughout the day, but nothing like a charge or 
assault, as we all expected. 

I well remember tlie deep anxiety and heart-biu'nings of that 
morning. It was the Saljbath, and as bright and lovely a day 
as ever lifted its cheering beams upon the flowery plains of that 
soft and sunny clime. I could almost fancy that I heard the 
welcome sounds of the church-going bell as it called the peace- 
ful citizens ot the land oi" my loved but distant home to the 
house of worsliip ; and then I thought how difiercnt was my 
occupation and the circumstances wliich surrounded me: in- 
stead of preparing for the solemn and delightful services of the 
Christian Sabbath, I was preparing my musket for, what I had 
every reason to believe, would be a. bloody day's work, and 
wondering where, and in what condition, the close of that day 
would find me. The surgeons visited the different wards of the 
isospital on that morning before sun-rise, and as many as were 
able to leave their beds — and many that were not. — had their 
arms in their bands, and were at their posts by early dawn, 
i-oady to do or die for the honor of their country's flag. 

We had managed to secure a supply of timber from the ad- 
joining buildings, from which we had constructed breastworks 
upon the flat roof of the church above our quarters, and from 
which wc were enabled to make a most cvcellent defense, the 
jiosition being so elevated that we could fire down upon them 
with fata! and deadly effect for several blocks in every direction. 
We were kept closely at our posts throughout the day, by re- 
peated sallies and skirmishes from the sharp shooters who were 
stationed upon the surrounding house tojjs, and at the doors and 
windows, and corners of the streets. On that night, the south 
gate leading into the first court yard in front of our quarters, 
was set on fire about 9 o'clock, and burned to the ground, while 
the soldier who fired it was shot down in the act, and lay so 
near the flames that his clothes were burned from off him, and 
his body lay exposed without either party being able to reach it, 
until the famished dogs in the street devoured it. The gate 



22G S< OTt's CAMPAIG.^? 

was a very large one, and the breach thus eflected was suffi- 
cient to have admitted eight men abreast, and through which 
we coniidently expected that Santa Anna would pour his con- 
quering legions in living torrents the moment the flames had 
sufficiently subsided; and we were all waiting in the highest 
possible state of anxious excitement, at every window, door, 
and port-hole, besides a considerable number on the roof, with 
cocked pieces, ready to give the lirst platoon a warm and soldier- 
like reception. 

But contrary to our expectations, and even our wishes, they 
came not — the opportunity was permitted to pass unimproved — 
no shout went up from the besieging ibrces — no rush was made 
to carry our Avorks at the point of the bayonet, which no doubt 
might have been accomplished, had their troops been composed 
of the proper material. But had the attempt been made, and 
had Santa Anna's army marched through that gate, as we all 
expected, and which he himself, no doubt, at lirst intended to 
do, five hundred muskets would have poured a steady stream of 
fire into their crowded ranks, and have choked every avenue of 
their approach with the dead bodies of a thousand men. The 
feelings of our little garrison was wrought up to the highest 
pitch of nervous excitement, and each had inly resolved to die 
at his post if necessary, and sell his life as dearly as possible. 
For we had often been assured that if we should be so unfortu- 
nate as to fall into the hands of the enemy, no quarter would be 
given us, and that we would all be butchered in cold blood; at 
least this would have been the case had we been taken before 
the arrival of Santa Anna; but we hoped that he might see 
proper to use his influence in controlling the fierce and lawless 
propensities of the Guerrillas, and the enraged populace, and 
thus have been the means of sparing our lives. 

On this account alone we felt somewhat relieved when we 
understood that he had arrived before the city, for we were all 
aware of the fearful fact that, unless speedily relieved, we must 
inevitably, and that in a very short time, fall into the hands of 
the enemy; and we felt confident that Santa Anna would feel 
himself in some measure bound to observe towards us the 
rules and regulations of civilized warfiire, which he had not 
violated during the present war. The next morning after the 
burning of the gate, Santa Anna sent Major Iturbide, and 
others of his officers, to reconnoitre our position, and report 
upon the j)racticability of taking us by storm. This reconnoi- 
sance took place from a loop hole in the parapet wall of a 
l)uilding on the opposite square, and which commanded a most 
excellent view of our works. But the strong and well -defended 



IN MEXICO. 227 

breast works on the roof of the houso — the windows all bari- 
caded and fortified with sand bags — and the double tier of port 
holes in all the hirger doors, and in the parapet walls on the 
rook — all taken into consideration, induced him to report unfa- 
vorably as the assault could only be accomplished by the 
bravest troops, and at a very great sacrifice of life. He there- 
tore suggested the propriety of drawing oft" a sufficient number 
of men from the liesieging force to enable him to meet and 
fight General Lane at the strong mountain oass of the Pinal, 
and thereby, if possible, cut off the relief which the garrison 
at Puebla had long expected fi-om that quarter. 

Santa Anna intended to reach this narrow defile, which was 
most admirably" adapted to the purposes of defense, in time to 
fortify it before General Lane could reach it, who vv-as then ou 
the march from Perote, and pushing on with all possible speed 
to relieve Colonel Childs, of whose critical situation he had 
already been informed by a courier. But instead of surprising- 
Lane and cuttting oft' his advance, he was himself surprised at 
the town of Huamantla and defeated with great loss. It was 
here that Captain Walker was killed, with many of his intrepid 
rangers, all of which must have been cut off to a man, had it 
not been for the timely arrival of the infantry force. 

It has been thought that he fell a victim to his own rashness 
and daring impetuosity. He commanded the advance guard of 
horsemen, and was ordered to move forward ahead of the main 
column, but at the same time within easy supporting distance 
of it ; and on reaching the suburbs of the city, if the enemy 
appeared in force, he was ordered to await tlie arrival of the 
infantry. But instead of this, as soon as he was out of sight of 
the main body, he ordered a gallop, and entered the city sword 
in hand, intending to finish the fight before the infantry came 
up; and the consequence was, that he himself was killed, with 
most of his command. 

Major Iturbide and Colonel La Vega, two of Santa Anna's, 
aids, were taken prisoners, both fighting gallantly. They both 
remained prisoners of war in Puebla for several months, and 
seemed to enjoy themselves very well, as they were permitted 
to go at large. Major Iturbide is one of the finest looking men 
I ever saw — a perfect model of the high-toned Castilian gen- 
tleman. He is about a medium size, perhaps a little inclined 
to corpulency, with a bright piercing eye, and large black mus- 
tache, while his open countenance and fine manly features seem 
almost constantly lit up with a bland and beaming smile, which 
indicates a generous heart, and a kind and amiable disposition. 
H« )■ a liaeal deseendant of Don Ausustino Iturbide, the firist 



228 scott's campaig:^ 

President, of the Mexican Republic, and wliom tlie people and 
army of the Capital, in their wild and overwrought enthusiasm, 
proclaimed Emperor ol" Mexico, on the ISth of May, 1822, 
under the royal and impo.sing title ot" " Augustin the First." 1 
saw nothing very striking about Colonel La Vega, with the ex- 
ception ot^ a pair of huge spurs which ornamented the heel of 
his dashing military boots, the rowels of which must have mea- 
sured, at least, six inches in circumference. He is rather 
small, with a somewhat feminine face, and has a very youthful 
appearance for one of his rank in the army He is probably 
a. relation of General La Vega, who was taken prisoner at Re- 
saca de la Palma, and afterwards at Cerro (Jordo, and who was 
engaged to be married at the close of the war to a most wealthy 
and accomplished lady of New Orleans. I hope he may be 
more successtid in the. wars of Cupid than he was in those of 
Mars. 

On the movniug of the tlay on w^hich General Lane arrived 
in the evening, Captain Herron, with his company of Pennsyl- 
vania volunteers, bj the consent ol the commander of the post, 
passed our line of sentinels and proceeded towards the Grand 
Plaza, supposing, as he did, that the enemy had principally 
drawn otT his forces, and that he could move a short distance 
in that direction with safety, v/hich he did for the purpose of 
reconnoitering and ascertaining what direction the enemy might 
take in leaving the city. But in this he was disappointed, lor a 
little before reaohing the plaza he found himself suddenly sur- 
rounded by a large body of lancers, to the number of some five 
or six hundred; and but for the. timely arrival of aid from the 
Cuartel, he would most inevitably have lost every man in a very 
few moments more. He was finally enabled to cut his way 
through the surrounding hosts and make good his escape, leav- 
ing seventeen of his number dead upojj the ground. , j^^j- 

The battle of Huanianlla v>'as fought on the 9th of NbKmn- 
ber, and by 2 o'clock on the afternoon of the 12th, the advance 
auard of General Lane's command reached the Grand Plaza in 
the city of Puebla, and was received with the thunder of artil- 
ler}', the ringing of bells, and the long and loud shouts of the 
almost frantic garrison, who hailed them as messengers of 
mercy, sent by a kind Providence in answer to ten thousand 
j>rayers, to deliver them from the cruel and bloody hands of their 
unfeeling and relentless enemies. 



IN MEXICO. 229 

REPORT OF COLONEL CHILDS. 

Head Quarteks I\riLiTARY Department of Puebla, ) 
Puebla, October 13, 1847. \ 

Sir : I have the honor to report that, after twenty-eight days 
close investment, the enemy yesterday raised the sief';c, and 
left for Atlixco. 

I will avail myself of this opportunity to submit to the Gene- 
ral-in-Chief a brief accovint of the operations of the troops at 
this point, from the period of my assuming command, to the 
termination of the siege, and the arrival of Brigadier tveneral 
Lane with reinforcements. On entering upon the duties as 
civil and military governor, I found myself in command ofCapt. 
Ford's company of cavaby, f<)rty-six strong ; Captains Ken- 
drick's and Miller's company of artillery, numbering 100 ; to- 
gether with six companies of the first Pennsylvania volunteers, 
Commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Black — his total effective 
strength being 247 — and hospitals filled with 1800 sick. 

With this command, San Jose, the grand depot in the city, 
Loretto,and Guadaloupe,v,'ere to be garrisoned, and held against 
the combined efforts of the military and populace. The isola- 
ted position selected for the hospitals compelled me to remove 
them within the protection of Sun .lose, on the first demonstra- 
tion of hostility. This was not long in exhibiting itself, when 
I put myself, with such means as I had at ray disposal, in the 
best possible state for delence ; confining my effijrts to the 
squares immediately round San Jose ; and from these points 
the enemy, during the entire siege, were not able to force in 
(but for a single moment) a sentinel. 

No open acts of hostility, other than t'le murdering of strag- 
gling soldiers, occurred until the night of the 13th of September, 
when a fire was opened from some of the streets. On the 
night of the 14th it recommenced, and from every street, with 
a violence that knew of no cessation for twenty-eight days and 
nights. 

The enemy, v,'ith their numerous cavalry succeeded in cut- 
ting off, at once, every kind of supply, and vainly attempted to 
change the current of the stream of water, that we might be- 
come a more easy prey. The night, however, befijre the cat- 
tle and sheep disappeared from the vicinity, tv.'o well-directed 
parties obtained 30 of the former, and 400 of the latter. The 
various points to be defended for the preservation of San Jose, 
on which the safety of the. other posts depended, demanded the^~ 
untiring vigilance of every officer and man. 



230 scott's campaign 

The enemy augmented in numbers daily, and daily the firing 
was increased ; and finally, on the 22d of September, General 
Santa Anna arrived with a large reinforcement from Mexico, 
much to the delight of the besiegers, on which occasion a ge- 
neral ringing of bells took place, and was only stopped, as it 
had been several times before, by a discharge of shells and 
round-shot from Fort Loretto into the heart of the city. On 
the 25th of September, General Santa Anna demanded my 
surrender. A copy of his demand, together with the reply, 
are herewith enclosed, marked A. 

I here beg leave to pay a passing tribute to my gallant troops. 
So soon as I had despatched my answer, I supposed not a mo- 
ment would be lost by the general who was to attack me at all 
points with his 8,000 troops. 1 rode to the different posts, and 
announced to the troops the demand, the force with which it was 
backed, and my reply. Their response convinced me that all 
was safe ; that a hard and bloody l^attle must be fought ere the* 
great captain of Mexico would overcome my little band. The 
point of attack was San Jose, conmianded by Lieut. Colonel 
Black, with Captain Ford's company of cavalry, and Captain 
Miller's company of 4th artillery, and four companies of his 
own regiment, and one hospital, the guard of which was in 
command of Captain Rowe, of the 9th regiment of infantry. 

The duty required of this command, as I have before ob- 
served, in consequence of the various points to be defended, 
demanded an untiring effort on the part of every officer and 
soldier. A shower of bullets was constantly poured from the 
streets, the balconies, the house-tops, and churches, upon their 
devoted heads. Never did troops endure more fatigue by watch- 
ing night after night, tor more than thirty successive nights, 
nor exhibit more patience, spirit, and gallantry. Not a post of 
danger could present itself, but the gallant fellows were ready 
to fill it. Not a sentinel could be shot, but another was anx- 
ious and ready to take his place. Officers and soldiers vied 
M'ith each other to be honored martyrs in their country's cause. 
This is the general character of the troops I had the honor to 
command, and I was confident the crown of victory would 
perch upon their standard when the last great effort should be 
made. Their bold and determined front deprived them of what 
they anxiously desired. 

On the 30th ult. General Santa Anna had established his bat- 
tery bearing upon San Jose, and opened with much spirit. 
Having .anticipated his movement, 1 had thrown up a traverse 
on the plaza, and withdrawn a twelve-pounder from Lordtto, 



\n MEXICO. 331 

by Tvliich means 1 was enabled to answer his shot. Towards 
night his battery ceased, and on tlie next morning was with- 
drawn, together with from 3 to 4,000 of the besieging force, to 
meet the reinforcements then daily expected at Pinal. On the 
2d instant I availed myself of some reduction of the enemy's 
numbers to make a sortie against certain l)arricades and build- 
ings, whose fire had become very annoying. One of the expe- 
ditions was confided to Captain Small, of the first Pennsylv^ania 
volunteers. Passing through the walls of an entire square with 
fifty men, he gained a position opposite the barricade, and drove 
the enemy with great loss, they leaving seventeen dead on the 
ground. The barricade consisting of 150 bales of cotton, was 
consumed. In this affair Captain Small and his command be- 
haved with great gallantry, and for twenty-four hours were un- 
ceasing in their labors in accomplishing the object, when I 
sent Lieutenant Laidlyof the ordnance, to blowup a prominent 
building, which was done by that excellent officer in good 
style, when the entire party was withdrawn, with few wounded. 

At the same time Lieutenant Morgan, of the I4th regiment, 
with a detachment of marines, and Lieutenant Merrifield, of 
the 15lh regiment, with a detachment of rifles, attempted to 
gain possession of certain buildings from which we were re- 
ceiving a most galling fire. Lieutenant Merrifield entered the 
building. Lieutenant Morgan was not so fortunate. The en- 
emy being present in great force, I directed him to fall back, 
with the loss of one man killed. On the 5th instant Captain 
Herron was detached with liis company to take possession of a 
building, from which the enemy had been enfilading the Plaza. 
This he did in a very handsome manner, and to my entire sat- 
isfaction, with only a few men wounded. Other minor acts of 
gallantry and good conduct were exhibited by officers and men 
at San Jose ; and from Guadaloupe one or two successful sor- 
ties were made upon *he enemy, when engaged in their daily 
attacks on San Jose. 

From Lieutenant Colonel Black, tlie immediate commander 
of San Jose, and his oftieers, I have received the most cordial 
support. Colonel Black, for more than thirty days, was untir- 
ing in his efforts and zeal for the safety of that point. Officers 
and men were at their posts night and day, without regarding 
the pelting storm; and I cannot say too much in praise of the 
gallant Colonel, his officers and men, before and during the 
siege. Lieutenant Laidley, of the ordnance corps, commanded 
the 12-pounder, the mountain howitzer, and four rocket batte- 
ries at the barricade, and there stationed himself night after 



2S2 SCOTT's CAMPAieiN 

night; and as often as these batteries were opened, it was with 
effect. Captain Ford, commanding the cavalry, although no 
opportunity occurred, in consequence of the limited number of 
troops, to engage the enemy, was at all times ready. Captain 
Miller, of the 8th artillery, was particularly successful in man- 
aging the r2-pounder, in one of the general attacks, and showed 
himself a good officer and skilful artillerist. 

Major Gwyn, commanding Loretto, although not attacked, 
was vigilant, and his command was of great assistance to me. 
Several detachments from his post occupied exposed points, and 
received heavy fires from the enemy, especially detachments 
under Lieutenants Carroll and Moore, who, for f()rty-eight 
hours, stood their guard, and were of essential service to me. 
I cannot speak too highly of Captain Kendrick and his man- 
agement of his batteries. His shells and shot fell beautifully 
upon the houses and churches, where the enemy were in great 
numbers. Wherever his shot took effect the firing of the enemy 
ceased. The limited number of these missiles compelled us 
to use them with great caution. I am much, very much, in- 
debted to Captain Kendrick for his vigilance and exertion be- 
fore and during the siege. I will take this occasion to mention 
Sergeant Owell, of Company B, 2d artillery, as a most skilful 
artillerist. I never saw shot thrown with more accuracy than 
from his gun. 

I take great pleasure in speaking of Captain Morehead, 
commanding Gaudaloupe. The place and defenses were in a 
most dilapidated condiiion. Captain Morehead, with his com- 
mand, succeeded in placing himself in a perfect state of defense, 
by great and constant labor. The enemy several times felt 
him, but finding him always on the alert, made no serious at- 
tack. By sorties upon the enemy, when attacking San Jose, 
he was of essential service to us, and killed many of them. I 
consider him an excellent and gallant officer. 

Lieutenant Edwards, 2d artillery, in charge of the mountain 
howitzer, threw his shells with great accuracy, and commanded 
a successful sortie. To Captain Rowe, of the 9th infantry, 
who commanded the guard of one of the hospitals, (a constant 
point of attack both day and night,) T am greatly indebted for 
his able defence of that position, and his gallant bearing before 
the enemy. 

To Surgeon Mills, Chief of the Medical Department, and to 
his assistants, great praise is duo for their unwearied services. 
Left with 1,800 sick, and limited supplies, with but six assist- 
ants, their utmost exertions were necessary to administer 



IN MEXICO. 253 

timely remedies to f?o many patients. Tlieir attention to the 
v/ounded deserves my attention and thanks. These gentlemen 
were not only occupied in their professional duties, but the 
want of officers and men compelled me to make largo requisu- 
tions for the defense of the hospitals, on surgeons and invalids, 
and they were nightly on guard, marshalling their men upon 
roofs and other points. To them I am greatly indebted. 

Captain Webster, A. Q. Master, and Li(?utenant Rhntt. A. 
C. S., rendered valuable services in defending their premises 
with men in their cmplo}' ; and with men in the Quartermaster's 
Department I v/as enabled to occupy a position that was all- 
important, and to which I had neither officers nor soldiers to 
send. Pilessrs. Spencer and Brown were particularly active 
and of great service. I should be unjust to myself, and to the 
spy company under Captain Pedro Arria, if I did not call the 
attention of the General-in-Chief to their invaluable services. 
From them I received the most accurate information of the 
movements of the enemy and the designs of the citizens ; through 
them I was enabled to apprehend several officers and citizens 
in their nightly meetings to consummate tlieir plans for raising 
the populace. The spy company fought gallantly, and are now 
so compromised that they must leave the country when our 
army retires. 

I have now only to speak of my A. A. A. (leneral, i^lr. 
Waelder, of the first Pennsylvania volunteers, and my Secretary, 
Mr. Wengierski. The gallant charge of Lieutenant Waelder 
upon the enemy, although rash, exhibits him as an ofixer not 
to be intimidated by numbers. His duties have been arduous 
and dangerous, having daily to carry orders through the thickest 
of the fire. I take great pleasure in recommending him to the 
favorable notice of the (ireneral-in-Chief. To Mr. Wengierski, 
secretary and translator, I am much indebted i!)r invaluable 
services. Mr. W., in addition to his appropriate duties, con- 
ducted the operations of the spy company, and through his 
suggestions and active exertions, I received much valuable in- 
formation, and many successful expeditions of spies into the 
city were made. Mr. W. connnandcd the detachment on the 
roof of my quarters, and was the first man wounded. From his 
after efforts, his woiuid proved severe and painful; still he per- 
formed his vai'ious duties, night and day, and is worthy of my 
approbation. 

1 regret that the health of Captain Do Hart, Lieutenant 
Governor, prevented him from taking an active part in the stir- 
ring scenes I have related, and in which he was so anxious to 



234 SCfiTT's CAMPAIGN. 

participate. Until confined to his quarters by sicknesP, he was 
of great assistance to me in directing the defenses of Guada- 
loupe, and heading a command into the city to disperse the 
populace. I herewith enclose a return of the killed and wound- 
ed, together with the sub-reports. 

Respectfully submitted. THOMAS CHILDS, 

Colonel U. S. A., Civil and Military Governor. 
To Captain H. L. Scott, A. A. A. G. 

Head Quarters of the Army, Mexico. 



lij/;r'3? 



